US Considers Military Strikes in Northern Nigeria Under Trump’s ‘Heavy’ Defence Plan

The United States military is reportedly weighing potential strikes in northern Nigeria after President Donald Trump’s recent threat to take action against Islamist militants accused of targeting Christians.

According to a report by The New York Times, the Pentagon has instructed the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to develop several military response options, ranging from limited drone operations to full-scale air and ground campaigns.

Sources revealed that AFRICOM presented three plans to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The first, described as a “light” option, involves joint intelligence-sharing and coordinated strikes with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked groups. The second, a “medium” approach, would deploy armed drones, including MQ-9 Reapers, to carry out targeted airstrikes on militant hideouts and vehicle convoys.

The most aggressive proposal, termed the “heavy” plan, calls for positioning an aircraft carrier group in the Gulf of Guinea and launching deep strikes inside northern Nigeria using fighter jets and long-range bombers.

However, several military experts have warned that such an operation could have severe consequences. Retired US Army Major General Paul Eaton described the plan as potentially disastrous, likening it to “pounding a pillow,” given the diffuse nature of militant networks in the region.

“There’s no easy fix,” another defense official reportedly said, cautioning that unilateral US intervention could worsen regional instability without diplomatic and humanitarian support.

The Pentagon and the White House have yet to confirm whether the plans will move forward. Still, the revelation has reignited debate over America’s military footprint in Africa and the implications of using force to address religious and security crises abroad.