The United States military is reportedly developing contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria, following a directive from President Donald Trump. According to ‘The New York Times’, the order instructs the Pentagon to prepare measures aimed at protecting Christians from terrorist attacks.
US Africa Command is said to have presented a range of options to the Department of Defense, outlining “heavy,” “medium,” and “light” levels of engagement. These include the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, the use of drones for targeted strikes, and intelligence-sharing operations with Nigerian forces.
Under the “medium” option, MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones would carry out precision attacks on insurgent camps and vehicles, coordinated through US intelligence networks. The lighter approach focuses on support and coordination with Nigeria’s military to counter groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP.
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Senior Pentagon officials, however, acknowledge that limited strikes are unlikely to end Nigeria’s long-running insurgency without a broader campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan, which Washington is not currently considering.
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