The United States government has directed the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to draw up a range of possible military options for intervention in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s order to respond to what he described as “escalating violence against Christians” in the country.
According to a report by the Cable News Network (CNN) monitored in Lagos, the Pentagon has received proposals from AFRICOM under three categories, “heavy, medium and light,” outlining potential levels of engagement.
The heavy option reportedly involves deploying a carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, with fighter jets or long-range bombers conducting airstrikes deep into northern Nigeria. The medium option would rely on unmanned aerial systems, such as MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones, supported by American intelligence to target insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles.
The light option, considered the least intrusive, focuses on intelligence-sharing, logistics, and joint operations in collaboration with Nigerian security forces.
Pentagon officials, however, are said to have admitted that unless the U.S. commits to a large-scale operation comparable to its campaigns in Iraq or Afghanistan, limited drone or air strikes alone are unlikely to end Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency.
Nigeria Rejects “Religious Persecution” Label
Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, rejected claims that Christians are being deliberately targeted, insisting that the country faces terrorism, not religious persecution.
“We face terrorism, not religious persecution. Both Christians and Muslims suffer,” Idris stated.
He further dismissed Nigeria’s inclusion in the U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC), describing it as being based on “inaccurate data and misrepresentation.”
China has also expressed strong opposition to the idea of U.S. military involvement in Nigeria. In a statement from Beijing, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cautioned against using religion or human rights as pretexts for interference in other nations’ domestic affairs.
“China opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs or threatening them with sanctions or force,” Mao said.
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, reiterated his readiness to act against what he called the “mass killing of Christians” in Nigeria.
“Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria… We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Trump told reporters.
Officials in Washington are said to be debating how quickly and at what scale any U.S. intervention might proceed. Analysts have warned that any unilateral military action in Nigeria could carry serious strategic, legal, and diplomatic risks, potentially destabilizing the wider West African region.
In Abuja, the Nigerian government reiterated its readiness to cooperate with the US in combating terrorism, but only within the framework of mutual respect for sovereignty.
Presidential Adviser Daniel Bwala said Nigeria “welcomes U.S. support” against Islamist insurgents, provided such efforts respect the country’s territorial integrity.
“Any military operation within Nigeria would require a bilateral agreement, not unilateral action,” he said.
The growing tension places Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, at the centre of renewed international attention over religious freedom, internal security, and foreign intervention. With both Washington and Beijing now weighing in, the unfolding situation is poised to test Nigeria’s diplomacy and the balance of global influence across West Africa.
Credit: The Sun