US MILITARY DRAFTS PLANS FOR POTENTIAL ACTION IN NIGERIA
The United States military has drafted contingency plans for possible strikes in Nigeria.
This followed an order by President Donald Trump directing the Pentagon to prepare to intervene over alleged persecution of Christians.
According to media report, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) submitted the plans to the Department of War in response to the directive by Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The publication quoted military sources as disclosing that three operational options were proposed.
These options include heavy, medium, and light each allowing different levels of engagement in Nigeria.
The heavy option, considered the most aggressive, would involve deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea to launch fighter jets or long-range bombers at militant targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
The medium option recommends the use of drone strikes involving MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to hit militant camps, convoys, and vehicles.
The drones, capable of loitering for hours, would rely on US intelligence for precision strikes.
The light option, according to the plan, focuses on joint operations with Nigerian forces through intelligence sharing, logistics support, and coordination against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups responsible for attacks, abductions and bombings.