The United States military has reportedly developed contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s directive to the Pentagon to “be ready to intervene” against terrorist attacks targeting Christians, according to a report by The New York Times.
The report, published on Wednesday, revealed that the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) submitted several operational proposals to the Department of War, acting on an order from Secretary Pete Hegseth to design strategies consistent with Trump’s instruction.
Military officials familiar with the classified plans told The New York Times that the proposed options—classified as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light”—outlined different levels of U.S. engagement in Nigeria.
Under the “heavy option,” Washington would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers to strike militant targets deep within northern Nigeria.
The “medium option” focuses on the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for precision strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles. These drone operations would rely heavily on U.S. intelligence networks to ensure accuracy and minimize collateral damage.
Meanwhile, the “light option” centers on intelligence sharing, logistics assistance, and joint counterterrorism operations with Nigerian forces against groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, which have been accused of widespread killings, abductions, and attacks on churches.
Despite these preparations, top Pentagon sources reportedly cautioned that limited drone or airstrike operations would have little long-term effect unless backed by a broader, Iraq-style campaign—an approach Washington is not currently considering.
Earlier, PUNCH Online reported Trump’s warning to deploy American troops to Nigeria if the alleged genocide against Christians continued. However, the Bola Tinubu-led government dismissed the claims as “false and provocative.”
Meanwhile, China has voiced strong opposition to any foreign military interference in Nigeria. Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said:
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as an excuse to interfere in another nation’s internal affairs or threaten it with sanctions or force.”
In a related response, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, rejected the country’s inclusion on the U.S. list of nations accused of violating religious freedom. He insisted that Nigeria’s crisis is rooted in terrorism, not religious persecution, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have suffered under extremist violence.
“The government disputes claims of targeted religious persecution. Since 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has neutralised over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to U.S. collaboration on counterterrorism while emphasising mutual respect for sovereignty,” Idris stated.
On Wednesday evening, Trump doubled down on his position, saying:
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
The development has further heightened diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington, sparking renewed debate over U.S. military involvement in religious and humanitarian conflicts abroad.