By Ademola Adekusibe
November 6, 2026.
The United States military has reportedly prepared operational plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria following President Donald Trump’s instruction to the Pentagon to be ready to intervene over alleged attacks on Christians in the country.
According to The New York Times, the U.S. Africa Command presented several options to the Department of War after a request by Secretary Pete Hegseth to align with Trump’s directive.
Military officials familiar with the discussions said the proposals, categorized as heavy, medium, and light, outlined different levels of U.S. engagement in Nigeria.
Under the heavy option, Washington would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers to hit militant positions in northern Nigeria.
The medium option involves using MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles, while the light option focuses on intelligence sharing, logistics, and joint operations with Nigerian forces.
The New York Times report added that Pentagon officials have warned that limited airstrikes or drone operations would not end Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency unless backed by a broader military campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Trump had earlier threatened to deploy American forces to Nigeria if the alleged persecution of Christians continued. The Nigerian government has dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the country faces terrorism, not religious persecution.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said both Christians and Muslims have suffered from extremist violence, noting that since 2023, the Tinubu administration has neutralized more than 13,500 militants and rescued over 11,000 hostages.
He added that Nigeria remains open to U.S. collaboration on counterterrorism while emphasizing mutual respect for national sovereignty.
