US Draws Up Airstrike Plans for Nigeria Amid Trump Threat
The U.S. military has reportedly prepared contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria after President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, according to The New York Times.
The report states that U.S. Africa Command presented several operational options to the Department of Defense following a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth. The options, categorized as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light,” outline different levels of engagement in Nigeria.
The “heavy” plan involves deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers targeting militants in northern Nigeria. The “medium” option proposes using MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes on insurgent camps, vehicles, and convoys, backed by U.S. intelligence. The “light” option focuses on intelligence sharing, logistics, and joint operations with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and other extremist groups accused of abductions, church attacks, and mass killings.
Pentagon officials reportedly caution that limited airstrikes or drone operations are unlikely to end Nigeria’s long-standing insurgency unless a full-scale campaign, akin to Iraq or Afghanistan, is launched—an approach currently not favored in Washington.
Earlier, Trump had threatened military intervention in Nigeria if the alleged persecution of Christians continued, claims that the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has rejected. China also expressed opposition to foreign interference in Nigeria under the pretext of religion or human rights.
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, stated that the country faces terrorism, not religious persecution, affecting both Christians and Muslims. He emphasized that since 2023, Tinubu’s administration has neutralized over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to U.S. counterterrorism cooperation while insisting on respect for its sovereignty.
On Wednesday, Trump reiterated his readiness to act if attacks on Christians in Nigeria persist, calling it an “existential threat” and emphasizing the U.S.’s willingness to protect Christian populations globally. These developments have intensified diplomatic tensions and renewed debate in Washington over potential U.S. military involvement in foreign religious conflicts.
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