US Military Draws Up Plans For Airstrikes Against Terrorists & Bandits

By Editor with Agency reports

The United States military has reportedly drawn up detailed plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria following a direct order from U.S. President Donald Trump, to end killings by terrorists and bandits.

According to The New York Times, the directive came after the President instructed the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christian communities and civilians facing relentless attacks by Islamist militants in northern Nigeria.

Sources within the U.S. Department of Defense revealed that the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversees American military operations across the continent, has already submitted several operational options to the Department of War. These include targeted drone strikes, air surveillance operations, and limited special forces involvement aimed at dismantling terrorist networks believed to be responsible for repeated massacres and abductions.

Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, reportedly initiated the request for these operational plans after a classified intelligence briefing confirmed the growing influence of extremist factions in Nigeria’s northwest and northeast regions. The intelligence also highlighted the alarming rate of attacks against rural Christian communities, particularly in Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and parts of Niger State.

While U.S. officials have emphasized that no final decision has been made regarding the deployment of airstrikes, Trump’s order marks the strongest indication yet of Washington’s readiness to take direct action in Nigeria’s counterterrorism fight.

Speaking to newsmen at the White House, a senior administration official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, stated:

> “President Trump has made it clear that America will not stand by while innocent people are being slaughtered. The world cannot ignore what is happening in Nigeria.”

The proposed air campaign, if approved, would likely target major terrorist enclaves affiliated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). AFRICOM is said to be considering using its airbases in Niger and Chad for launching precision strikes, supported by intelligence gathered through reconnaissance drones already operating in the Sahel region.

Security analysts have described the move as a potential “turning point” in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, though it could also raise diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington. Nigeria’s government has traditionally opposed foreign military intervention within its borders, preferring bilateral cooperation through intelligence sharing and training support.

However, with recent reports of escalating violence, mass kidnappings, and targeted attacks on churches and schools, international pressure has mounted on Nigeria’s leadership to accept broader support.

Human rights organizations and faith-based groups in the U.S. have been lobbying the Trump administration for months, urging direct intervention to halt what they describe as a “silent genocide” against Christians in Nigeria.

If implemented, the U.S. air campaign would mark the first direct American military intervention in Nigeria’s ongoing insurgency — a development that could significantly alter the dynamics of the conflict that has persisted for over a decade.

The Nigerian government has not yet issued an official response to the reports, but diplomatic sources in Abuja say top security officials are already in “closed-door consultations” regarding the potential implications of U.S. involvement.