By Tony Ezike
The United States military has reportedly developed contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria following a directive from President Donald Trump to the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” in defence of Christians allegedly under terrorist attacks, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has submitted several operational scenarios to the Department of War in response to an instruction by Secretary Pete Hegseth to formulate options consistent with President Trump’s order.
Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that the proposed strategies were classified into “heavy,” “medium,” and “light” categories, each outlining varying levels of U.S. military engagement in 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 striking militant strongholds deep in northern Nigeria.
The “medium option” envisions the deployment of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to carry out targeted strikes on insurgent bases, convoys, and vehicles, with intelligence support to ensure precision and timeliness.
The “light option” focuses on intelligence sharing, logistics assistance, and joint operations with Nigerian security forces targeting Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of killings, kidnappings, and attacks on churches.
Despite these preparations, senior Pentagon officials reportedly admit that limited drone or airstrike operations would have minimal impact on Nigeria’s long-running insurgency unless accompanied by a full-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan — an approach not currently being considered in Washington.
Earlier, PUNCH Online reported that Trump had threatened to deploy American forces to Nigeria if the alleged genocide against Christians persisted — a claim the Bola Tinubu-led administration dismissed as “false and misleading.”
Meanwhile, China has declared its opposition to any foreign interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, warning against the use of religion or human rights as a pretext for military threats.
“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 or threaten them with sanctions and force,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing in Beijing.
In reaction, the Federal Government of Nigeria rejected the country’s reported inclusion on the U.S. list of nations violating religious freedom, describing the designation as based on “inaccurate and distorted information.”
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris clarified that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from terrorism, not religious persecution, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of extremist violence.
“The government disputes claims of targeted religious persecution. Since 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has neutralised over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to U.S. collaboration on counterterrorism while emphasising mutual respect for sovereignty,” Idris said.
He reaffirmed that the Nigerian government remains committed to protecting all citizens “irrespective of faith or background.”
Meanwhile, President Trump, in a fresh statement on Wednesday evening, reiterated his willingness to take direct action if alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria continue.
“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,” Trump declared.
The developments have further strained diplomatic relations and ignited intense debate in Washington over whether the U.S. should intervene militarily in foreign conflicts with religious undertones.
