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, according to The New York Times.
The report, released Wednesday, indicates that U.S. Africa Command submitted a series of operational options to the Department of Defense in response to a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop plans consistent with Trump’s orders.
Officials familiar with the planning told The New York Times that the proposals, described as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light,” detail different levels of military engagement within Nigeria.
The “heavy” option would involve deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, accompanied by fighter jets or long-range bombers capable of striking militant targets deep in northern Nigeria.
The “medium” option would deploy MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to carry out targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles. These operations would be coordinated with U.S. intelligence to ensure “precise and timely” attacks, the report said.
By contrast, the “light” option emphasizes intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint operations with Nigerian forces to counter Boko Haram and other Islamist groups accused of mass killings, abductions, and attacks on churches.
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.
President Trump on Saturday threatened to send US forces into Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” if Africa’s most populous country does not stem what he described as the killing of Christians by Islamists.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he said on Truth Social.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
This is coming a day after the American President declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over killings of Christians, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
He said the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” directing Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.
We’re determined to defeat terrorism — Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has pledged his administration’s resolve to deepen global engagement and intensify the fight against terrorism and criminality.
The President spoke shortly after an economic briefing by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who reported during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday that the administration’s reform agenda continues to stimulate investor confidence and deliver notable economic gains.
According to the President, the government remains firmly committed to moving the country forward under the Renewed Hope Agenda, despite prevailing political and security pressures.
He also acknowledged the scale of the security and economic challenges confronting the nation.
“The task ahead is immense. But we are resolved to move forward with unity and purpose, to defeat terrorism and build a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nigeria,” he said.
President Tinubu said the Eurobond’s oversubscription, despite political anxieties, underlined global faith in Nigeria’s fundamentals.
“Despite the political headwinds and fears, our partners have continued to engage with confidence,” he said.
Edun had expressed gratitude to the President and cabinet members for their support during his recent illness, explaining that the ongoing reforms, though challenging, were driven by a clear objective to build a competitive economy that creates jobs and lifts millions out of poverty.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.23 per cent in Q2 2025, the strongest expansion in a decade outside the post-COVID-19 rebound.
He said 13 sectors expanded by more than seven per cent, up from nine in the previous quarter, evidence of broad-based resilience.
He noted that the industrial sector nearly doubled its growth from 3.72 per cent to 7.45 per cent, reflecting rising productivity and renewed investor interest.
Speaking further, Edun said inflation declined to 18 per cent last December, while foreign reserves exceeded $43 billion, and the trade surplus climbed to N7.4 trillion, signalling strengthened external buffers.
According to him, the new consumer-spending data showed Nigerians now spend about half of their income on basic needs, compared with nearly 90 per cent previously, indicating a gradual transition from subsistence to improved living standards and enhanced productivity.
He further described Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a major confidence boost for the financial sector, noting that global institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, had acknowledged the country’s reform momentum through upgraded growth projections and improved credit ratings.
The minister also cited Tuesday’s €2.35 billion Eurobond issuance, which attracted over $13 billion in investor orders, as a testament to strong global confidence in Nigeria’s economic trajectory and the President’s leadership.
He stressed the need to mobilise greater domestic and foreign investment to achieve the administration’s target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030, noting that growth must reach seven per cent annually by 2027.
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