The United States military is reportedly drawing up contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, The New York Times reports.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to the report released on Wednesday, the U.S. Africa Command has submitted a range of operational options to the Department of Defense following a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to act in line with the president’s instructions.
Officials familiar with the discussions told The New York Times that the proposals outline three tiers of potential engagement — “heavy,” “medium,” and “light.”
The “heavy” option involves deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers capable of hitting militant targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
The “medium” plan would utilise MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to conduct targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles, coordinated with U.S. intelligence for precision and timeliness.
Meanwhile, the “light” option centres on intelligence sharing, logistical assistance, and joint operations with Nigerian forces to counter Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of carrying out mass killings, kidnappings, and church attacks.
Senior Pentagon officials reportedly concede that limited air or drone operations would not decisively end Nigeria’s long-running insurgency without a large-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach Washington is not currently pursuing.
The development follows remarks by Trump over the weekend threatening military action if Nigeria fails to protect Christians from extremist attacks.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
The statement came a day after Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” he added.
Tinubu: Nigeria Protects All Faiths
Responding on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu dismissed claims that Nigeria is hostile to Christians, stressing that his administration upholds religious freedom and tolerance.
“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,” he said in a personally signed statement.
Tinubu reaffirmed that his government has maintained active engagement with leaders of both major religions since 2023 while addressing security threats affecting citizens across regions.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” he said.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths. Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.”
