The United States military is reportedly preparing contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria, following a directive from President Donald Trump instructing the Pentagon to ‘prepare to intervene’ to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
The United States military is reportedly preparing contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria, according to CHANNELS TV reporting, which cites a directive from President Donald Trump instructing the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
The report, released Wednesday by The New York Times, states that U.S. Africa Command submitted a series of operational options to the Department of Defense, responding to a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop plans consistent with Trump’s orders.
The proposals detail varying levels of military engagement. The “heavy” option includes deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea with fighter jets or long-range bombers. The “medium” option involves MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes, while the “light” option focuses on intelligence sharing and joint operations with Nigerian forces.
Senior Pentagon officials reportedly acknowledge that limited airstrikes or drone operations are unlikely to end Nigeria’s protracted insurgency, “unless the U.S. undertakes a full-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach Washington is not currently pursuing.”
Channels Television earlier reported that President Trump threatened “guns-a-blazing” action if the Nigerian Government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
Responding to the threats, President Tinubu “dismissed claims that Nigeria is hostile toward Christians, insisting the country remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.” Tinubu stated: “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. Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”