WASINGTON, USA — The United States military is preparing contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria following a directive from President Donald Trump ordering the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, The New York Times has reported.
According to the report released Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has submitted a set of operational options to the Department of Defense at the request of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
The proposals, described as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light,” outline varying levels of military engagement within Nigeria.
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 capable of hitting militant targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
The “medium” plan calls for deploying MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to conduct targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles, coordinated with U.S. intelligence for “precise and timely” operations.
The “light” option would limit U.S. involvement to intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint counterterrorism operations with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of mass killings, abductions, and attacks on churches.
Senior Pentagon officials reportedly acknowledge that limited drone strikes or air operations alone would not end Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency unless Washington launched a broader campaign similar to its operations in Iraq or Afghanistan — a step they say the U.S. is not currently considering.
The development follows Trump’s declaration last week designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Trump reiterated his warning in a Truth Social post, saying the U.S. “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” Trump wrote.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Trump has also directed House Republicans, including Congressman Riley Moore and Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, to investigate what he called “the mass slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.
Reacting to Trump’s remarks, President Bola Tinubu rejected suggestions that Nigeria is hostile to Christians, describing the claim as “a misrepresentation of our national reality.”
“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,” Tinubu said in a statement personally signed and released on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
He added that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious liberty and that his administration maintains ongoing engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges nationwide.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.”
Nigeria’s presidency has in recent days intensified diplomatic outreach following the U.S. president’s comments, which have triggered concern over the prospect of foreign military involvement in Africa’s most populous nation.
