The U.S. military has developed contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria after President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” in order to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
According to a report by The New York Times, published on Wednesday, revealed that the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) submitted several military options to the Department of War following a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth to create plans in line with Trump’s directive.
Sources familiar with the discussions told the outlet that the proposals were divided into three categories “heavy,” “medium,” and “light” each outlining different levels of U.S. involvement in Nigeria.
Under the “heavy” plan, Washington would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, with support from fighter jets or long-range bombers to target militant positions deep in northern Nigeria.
The “medium option” reportedly calls for the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to carry out targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles.
According to the report, these drone operations would rely on U.S. intelligence to ensure that attacks are both accurate and timely.
The “light option,” meanwhile, centers on intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint missions with Nigerian security forces against Boko Haram and other extremist groups accused of widespread killings, kidnappings, and attacks on churches.
However, senior Pentagon officials have admitted that limited airstrikes or drone missions alone are unlikely to resolve Nigeria’s long-running insurgency unless the U.S. commits to a large-scale military campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan, a move that no one in Washington currently supports.
Earlier reports indicated that President Trump had threatened to deploy U.S. troops to Nigeria if the alleged persecution of Christians continued, but the Bola Tinubu administration has strongly denied those claims.
Meanwhile, China announced on Tuesday that it stands firmly with Nigeria, declaring its opposition to any form of foreign intervention under the pretext of religion or human rights.
At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China “firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations or to threaten them with sanctions or military force.”
Mao made the comment in response to questions about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to take military action in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government on Wednesday rejected its inclusion on the U.S. list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, calling the designation “misleading and based on inaccurate data and misrepresentation” of Nigeria’s security situation.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris clarified that Nigeria is battling terrorism not religious persecution and that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of extremist violence. “The government rejects the notion of targeted persecution. Since 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has neutralized over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to working with the United States on counterterrorism efforts, but only on the basis of mutual respect and sovereignty,” he said.
Idris added that Nigeria remains committed to safeguarding national security and protecting all citizens, regardless of religion.
Later that evening, Trump doubled down on his stance, warning that the U.S. “cannot stand by while Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria and other parts of the world.” He added, “We are ready and willing to defend our great Christian population everywhere.”
These developments have intensified diplomatic tensions and reignited debate in Washington over whether the U.S. should involve itself militarily in foreign conflicts tied to religion.
