The United States military has reportedly drawn up contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, according to The New York Times.
The report, released on Wednesday, said the U.S. Africa Command had presented several operational plans to the Department of War following a directive from Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop strategies in line with Trump’s instruction.
Sources familiar with the discussions told the newspaper that the proposals, 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, backed by fighter jets or long-range bombers to target militant positions in northern Nigeria.
The “medium option” involves using MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles. The report added that the drones would operate with U.S. intelligence support to ensure “precise and timely” attacks.
Meanwhile, the “light option” centres on intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint operations with Nigerian security forces against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups blamed for mass killings, abductions, and church attacks.
Despite the detailed planning, senior Pentagon officials reportedly acknowledged that limited airstrikes or drone missions would not end Nigeria’s long-running insurgency unless the U.S. launches a large-scale military campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach currently not being considered in Washington.
Earlier, Trump, in a post on his Truth Social account a few days ago, instructed the U.S. War Department to prepare for possible actions in Nigeria.
He accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to what he described as the killings of Christians across the country.
Trump warned that the United States would immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the attacks on Christians continue.
He also indicated that America might intervene militarily to eliminate what he called “Islamic terrorists” responsible for the killings.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote.
He further stated, “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
