US Military drafts airstrike contingency plans for Nigeria following Trump’s directive to protect Christians

Abdullateef Fowewe

The United States military has reportedly developed contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria, following a presidential order from President Donald Trump to “prepare to intervene” to safeguard Christians from terrorist attacks, according to The New York Times.

The report revealed that the U.S. Africa Command submitted several operational options to the Department of War in response to a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth, aligning with Trump’s directive.

Military insiders described the proposals as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light” in scope, each detailing varying levels of military engagement within Nigeria.

Under the most aggressive “heavy option,” the U.S. would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supplemented by fighter jets or long-range bombers targeting militant strongholds in northern Nigeria.

The “medium option” envisions the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for precise strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles, supported by U.S. intelligence to ensure “precise and timely” operations.

Conversely, the “light option” emphasises intelligence sharing, logistics support, and joint operations with Nigerian security forces against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups implicated in mass killings and church attacks.

Despite these plans, Pentagon officials reportedly caution that limited airstrikes or drone strikes may not end Nigeria’s long-running insurgency without a full-scale military campaign akin to U.S. actions in Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach currently not favored in Washington.

President Trump previously warned of deploying American forces if alleged Christian genocides continued, though Nigeria’s government under Bola Tinubu firmly denied these allegations.

In a related development, China declared its support for Nigeria on Tuesday, opposing any foreign intervention “under the guise of religion or human rights.”