The US military has reportedly drafted and submitted contingency plans for potential strikes in Nigeria after President Donald Trump instructed defense officials to prepare for possible military action over his claims of a “Christian genocide” in the country.
According to The New York Times, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) forwarded its options to the Department of War this week at the request of Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Below is a summary of the report:
Despite Trump’s directive to prepare for intervention in Nigeria to protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants, US military officials say American forces are unlikely to resolve a decades-long insurgency that has affected communities across religious lines.
Officials note that meaningful impact would require a large-scale military campaign similar to Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach for which there is neither public nor political appetite. However, planners outlined limited actions that the US could take.
Possible operations include:
Airstrikes on known militant compounds in northern Nigeria.
Drone attacks using MQ-9 Reapers or MQ-1 Predators to target vehicles and convoys.
Joint raids with Nigerian forces to root out insurgents hiding in rural villages.
These options were included in the contingency plans AFRICOM prepared following Trump’s weekend statement threatening military action to stop what he described as attacks on “cherished Christians”—although violence in Nigeria has affected both Muslims and Christians and is fueled by land disputes, extremism, and long-standing regional tensions.
Militant groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa have targeted Christians, but they have also killed many Muslims accused of being insufficiently devout.
Current and former US officials say any significant American intervention would almost certainly fail.
“It would be a fiasco,” said retired Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton, noting that the American public has shown little interest in another large foreign military engagement.
If Trump were to order airstrikes—the option he appears to favor—officials say they would create short-term “shock and awe” but achieve little strategically. Eaton compared such strikes to “pounding a pillow.”
Three Military Options Submitted
Defense officials confirmed that AFRICOM submitted three escalatory options:
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Light Option
Limited by the closure of USAID’s Abuja office and by deep-rooted cultural, land-use, and religious conflicts that drive much of the violence.
Support in targeting insurgents such as Boko Haram.
“Partner-enabled operations” with Nigerian troops.
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Medium Option
Remaining drone launch points—southern Europe or Djibouti—are far less practical.
Complicated by the loss of US drone bases in Niger (Agadez and Niamey), now occupied by Russian forces.
Drone strikes on camps, bases, convoys, and vehicles.
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Heavy Option
Considered highly unlikely given current US military commitments and priorities.
Launching fighter jets and long-range bombers for deep strikes in northern Nigeria.
Deploying an aircraft carrier group to the Gulf of Guinea.
Officials said that moving an aircraft carrier to target insurgents in Nigeria was not considered a 2025 national security priority as recently as last week.
AFRICOM’s new commander, Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, is scheduled to visit Nigeria in the coming weeks, as tensions surrounding Trump’s directive continue to generate concern among US defense officials.
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