THE United States military is reportedly drawing up contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” in response to alleged killings of Christians by Islamist extremists.
According to The New York Times, the U.S. Africa Command has submitted several operational options to the Department of Defense following a request from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to act in line with the President’s directive.
The proposals, classified as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light,” outline varying levels of military engagement within Nigeria.
The “heavy” plan reportedly involves deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers capable of hitting insurgent targets in northern Nigeria.
The “medium” approach would see the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for precision strikes on militant camps, convoys, and vehicles, coordinated with U.S. intelligence for accuracy.
The “light” option focuses on intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint operations with Nigerian security forces to combat Boko Haram and other extremist groups.
Senior Pentagon officials, however, acknowledged that limited drone strikes or small-scale operations would likely not end Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency unless backed by a broader, full-scale campaign similar to those conducted in Iraq or Afghanistan — a step Washington is reportedly not inclined to take at this time.
The report follows Trump’s recent statement on Truth Social, where he threatened to send U.S. forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians.
Declaring Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” he accused Islamist groups of committing mass killings and ordered U.S. lawmakers to investigate the situation.
“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.
In a swift response, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s characterisation of Nigeria as intolerant toward Christians.
In a statement personally signed by him, Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a nation committed to religious freedom, tolerance, and unity.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it recognise government efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief. Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President said.
Tinubu explained that since 2023, his administration has maintained active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing security challenges affecting citizens across all faiths and regions.
He stressed that religious freedom remains a core part of Nigeria’s identity and assured that his government would continue to work with the United States and other international partners to protect communities of all faiths.