U.S. Military Considers Airstrike Options in Nigeria Amid Tensions
The United States military has reportedly developed potential airstrike plans for Nigeria, following a directive from former President Donald Trump to the Pentagon to “get ready to intervene” in order to protect Christians from terrorist attacks. This information was reported by The New York Times.
According to the report, the U.S. Africa Command has submitted several options to the Department of War after receiving instructions from Secretary Pete Hegseth to act on Trump’s orders. These plans are categorized into three levels — “heavy,” “medium,” and “light” — based on the extent of military involvement.
Under the “heavy option,” the U.S. would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers targeting militant strongholds in northern Nigeria. This level of involvement would represent a significant escalation of U.S. military presence in the region.
The “medium option” involves the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes on insurgent camps and vehicles. These operations would be guided by U.S. intelligence to ensure accuracy and minimize collateral damage.
The “light option” focuses on sharing intelligence, providing logistics support, and assisting joint missions with Nigerian forces against groups like Boko Haram and other Islamist militants responsible for killings, kidnappings, and church attacks. This approach emphasizes collaboration rather than direct military engagement.
However, senior Pentagon officials have reportedly acknowledged that limited airstrikes or drone operations would not resolve Nigeria’s insurgency unless the U.S. launches a larger military campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan. Washington is currently not considering such a large-scale intervention.
Earlier, President Trump had warned that the U.S. could deploy its military to Nigeria if what he described as “genocide against Christians” was not stopped. The Nigerian government denied these claims, calling them false.
Meanwhile, China has expressed support for Nigeria, opposing any form of foreign interference. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated: “As Nigeria’s strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as an excuse to interfere in another nation’s internal affairs.”
On Wednesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, rejected the U.S. decision to place Nigeria on a list of countries violating religious freedom, describing it as “based on inaccurate data.” He emphasized that Nigeria is combating terrorism, not religious persecution, and that both Christians and Muslims are victims of extremist violence.
“Since 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has neutralized over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to U.S. cooperation on counterterrorism while respecting national sovereignty,” Idris said.
Later that evening, Trump reinforced his warning, stating:
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening. We are ready to protect our great Christian population around the world.”
The issue has created tensions between Washington and Abuja and reignited discussions in the U.S. about the role of military involvement in foreign religious conflicts.