The US military has submitted contingency plans for potential strikes on Nigeria, following a directive from President Donald Trump to prepare for possible action over claim of Christian genocide.
The New York Times reports that the US Africa Command has drawn up and sent its options to the Department of War this week upon the request of Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to the report, published on Wednesday, the contingency plan from the African Command included three options: heavy, medium, and light. Each was designed to allow for a controlled escalation.
The New York Times reported that the military officials disclosed that the “heavy option” presented by the command is the most forceful military response the US could take against Nigeria.
It involves sending an aircraft carrier group to the Gulf of Guinea, off the Nigerian coast, and using fighter jets or long-range bombers to strike targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
For the medium option, the command suggested using drone strikes against militant camps, bases, convoys and vehicles in northern Nigeria.
US Predator and Reaper drones have a capacity to loiter for hours before striking; meanwhile, other US intelligence assets would build up targets’ patterns of life to enable precise, timely strikes, the New York Times reports.
Military officials told The New York Times that the light option would centre on partner-enabled operations, with the US military and State Department supporting Nigerian government forces to target Boko Haram and other Islamist insurgents responsible for attacks, kidnappings and killings of civilians.
The official said the primary goal of the plan is to strike Islamist militants in northern Nigeria, protect Christians from armed violence and to end the decades-long insurgency in the country.
However, there are some concerns about these plans.
