The United States military has begun drafting detailed contingency plans for potential military action in Nigeria, amid growing concerns over attacks on Christians by Islamist militants, The New York Times reports.
The move comes as part of a broader assessment within the Pentagon, even before President Donald Trump publicly signaled his willingness to “intervene” to protect Christians in the country.
According to the report, the U.S. Africa Command has submitted several military options to the Department of War following a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth for operational proposals aligned with Trump’s directive.
Military officials revealed that the plans, categorized as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light”, represent varying levels of possible engagement in Nigeria.
The “heavy option,” officials explained, would involve the most aggressive course of 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” centers on precision 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 backed by U.S. intelligence assets to track insurgent movements for “precise and timely” attacks, the report added.
The “light option,” meanwhile, focuses on supporting Nigerian forces through intelligence sharing and logistics to enable joint operations against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of mass killings, abductions, and church attacks.
Although the Pentagon has drawn up these strategies, senior U.S. defense officials privately acknowledge that limited drone or airstrike operations are unlikely to end Nigeria’s protracted insurgency unless the U.S. commits to a full-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan, an option that few in Washington appear willing to consider.
On Wednesday evening, Donald Trump reiterated that his administration would not hesitate to intervene militarily if the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria persists.
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!”
Meanwhile, China has expressed firm support for the Nigerian government, declaring its opposition to any foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated: “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 made the comments while responding to a question regarding Trump’s threat of possible U.S. military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
In reaction, the Nigerian government urged Donald Trump to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and abandon any plans to deploy American troops within its territory.
Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Tinubu, stated this on Monday during an appearance on Russia National TV.
Bwala dismissed the allegations as part of an orchestrated media campaign to portray the Tinubu administration as anti-Christian, saying that independent global monitors and credible civil society organizations have found no evidence of state-backed religious genocide.
He 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.”
Bwala further alleged that U.S. senators such as Ted Cruz had been misled by IPOB sympathizers seeking to influence Washington’s foreign policy.
He added, “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.”
