Ankara: The US military has prepared potential intervention plans for Nigeria following President Donald Trump's directive to protect Christians from attacks by terrorist groups.
According to Anadolu Agency, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has developed three intervention strategies-light, medium, and heavy-and presented them to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. This move comes after Trump's warning via his Truth Social platform that the US would cut all aid if Nigeria's government fails to prevent the killing of Christians.
US defense officials have outlined that the light intervention plan would involve supportive operations alongside Nigerian forces against groups like Boko Haram. The medium plan considers drone strikes on militant targets, although logistical challenges exist due to the lack of nearby US bases in neighboring Niger. The heavy plan includes deploying an aircraft carrier group, but this is not considered a priority for US national security at present.
Military officials have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of US intervention in ending Nigeria's long-standing insurgency. A large-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan is reportedly not under serious consideration. Retired Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton remarked that such an intervention could be disastrous, noting a lack of interest from both the public and President Trump in a ground war in Nigeria. He suggested that potential airstrikes would likely be ineffective, metaphorically likening them to 'pounding a pillow.'
Nigeria faces security threats from various groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, ethnic militias, and conflicts between herders and farmers, often driven by economic and social tensions. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports 1,923 attacks on civilian targets in Nigeria this year, with only 50 attacks directly linked to Christian identity. ACLED further noted that while insurgent groups may frame their actions as 'anti-Christian,' the violence often indiscriminately affects all communities.