US Drafts Strike Plans for Nigeria After Trump Orders Pentagon to Prepare Intervention

Fresh details have emerged indicating that the United States military has drafted contingency plans for potential strikes in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s directive to “prepare to intervene” over allegations of Christian persecution.

According to a report by The New York Times, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has submitted a set of operational plans to the Department of War, acting on instructions issued through the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Three Military Options Proposed

Military sources quoted by the publication said the Pentagon received three strike options, categorised as heavy, medium, and light, with each designed to allow different levels of US military engagement in Nigeria.

Heavy Option – Aircraft Carrier Strike Group

The most aggressive option involves deploying a US aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, from where fighter jets and long-range bombers would conduct deep-strike operations on militant targets in northern Nigeria.

Medium Option – Drone Warfare

The medium option centres on MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to target insurgent camps, supply convoys, vehicles, and night-time movement corridors. The drones would rely heavily on US intelligence networks for precision targeting.

Light Option – Joint Operations with Nigeria

The light option proposes intelligence sharing, logistics support, and coordinated operations with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandit networks responsible for killings, abductions and bombings.

However, Pentagon officials reportedly acknowledged that limited strikes or drone missions would not resolve Nigeria’s complex security crisis without a broader long-term campaign similar to Iraq or Afghanistan, an option deemed too costly and politically unpopular in Washington.

Trump Accuses Tinubu Govt of Allowing ‘Mass Slaughter of Christians’

President Trump had earlier accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of failing to stop what he described as the “mass slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump declared: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”

He went on to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern”, suspending arms sales and technical support to Abuja, a move influenced by months of lobbying by right-wing US lawmakers.

Nigeria Rejects Accusations as False, Politically Motivated

Nigerian officials have strongly dismissed the allegations. Presidential aide Daniel Bwala, speaking on Russian National TV, said Trump was acting on “misinformation” spread by anti-government groups.

“We do not need American boots on our soil. What we need is cooperation in intelligence and equipment,” Bwala said.

“The government of President Tinubu is not persecuting Christians or any religious group.”

Bwala added that any military intervention would violate international law, stressing that Washington must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.

China Backs Nigeria, Warns US Against ‘Interference’

China has openly backed Nigeria, denouncing Trump’s threat as an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of a sovereign nation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as an excuse to threaten other nations with force.”

Beijing’s support is seen as a significant diplomatic boost for Abuja amid rising tensions.

Military experts and analysts have cautioned that any US military action in Nigeria could trigger deeper instability across West Africa.

Retired US Army General Paul Eaton told The New York Times that the plan is: “A fiasco waiting to happen… bombing northern Nigeria would be like pounding a pillow. It would cause chaos but solve nothing.”

The US no longer has drone bases near Nigeria after its withdrawal from Agadez and Niamey in Niger Republic following the 2025 coup.

Deploying an aircraft carrier to the Gulf of Guinea would strain US naval resources already stretched across the Pacific, Middle East, and Caribbean.

Nigeria’s Violence More Complex than Trump’s Narrative

Security experts stress that Nigeria’s conflict landscape is far more complex than a simple Christian–Muslim divide.

They note that many attacks stem from land disputes, banditry, economic conflict, and local power struggles, with extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP having targeted both Muslims and Christians.

For instance, in 2017, over 50 worshippers were killed in a mosque bombing in Adamawa.

2018, a double suicide attack on a mosque left 86 people dead.

These incidents underline the indiscriminate nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, contradicting the narrative of targeted religious genocide.