US Military Draws Up Plans For Airstrikes In Nigeria
The United States military has drafted contingency plans for possible military action in Nigeria following an order from President Donald Trump, who directed the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from attacks by Islamic militants, The New York Times reports.
According to the report, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has submitted several options to the Department of War, responding to a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth for operational plans in line with Trump’s directive.
Military officials said that the proposals, labelled “heavy,” “medium,” and “light”, outline different levels of potential engagement in Nigeria.
The “heavy option,” the officials said, would represent the most aggressive U.S. action: deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea and launching fighter jets or long-range bombers to hit militant targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
The “medium option” involves targeted drone strikes using MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones against known militant camps, convoys, and vehicles. These drones, capable of loitering for hours, would be supported by U.S. intelligence assets tracking insurgents’ movements to enable “precise and timely” attacks, the report added.
The “light option,” however, focuses on supporting Nigerian forces through intelligence sharing and logistics while enabling joint operations against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of mass killings, abductions, and church attacks.
While the Pentagon has drawn up these plans, top military officials privately admit that no amount of limited airstrikes or drone operations would likely end Nigeria’s decades-long insurgency unless the U.S. embarks on a full-scale campaign similar to Iraq or Afghanistan —an option no one in Washington appears ready to pursue.
On Wednesday evening, Donald Trump also insisted that his government is willing to invade Nigeria if the alleged genocide Christians persists without solutions.
He wrote: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there, and in numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian Population around the World!”
China had also declared its unwavering support for the Nigerian government, saying it stands by Nigeria as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”
This position was announced at a press conference on Tuesday, by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.
The Chinese minister was quoted as saying: “As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force”.
Ning was answering a question on US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government had also told President Donald Trump to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and stay away from any plans to deploy American troops to its territory.
Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Tinubu, stated this on Monday while appearing on Russia National TV.
Bwala dismissed the allegations as part of an orchestrated media campaign to paint the Tinubu administration as anti-Christian, saying independent global monitors and credible civil society organizations have found no evidence of state-backed religious genocide.
He had said: “We try our best to downplay the rhetoric because we know for sure that that can be the reflection of the realities on ground.”
He further alleged that U.S. senators such as Ted Cruz had been misled by IPOB sympathisers seeking to influence Washington’s foreign policy.
“And we’re calling on Donald Trump to assist us with military apparatus that is requisite for us to fight insecurity. We do not need the boots of the American soldiers in our soil. There has to be a respect of our territorial integrity.”
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