Trump suggested on Saturday the U.S. could enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing,” separately telling reporters aboard Air Force One the following day that U.S. forces may launch aerial attacks or have a military presence in the country.

American forces are unlikely to be able to end a decades-long insurgency in Africa’s most populous country, despite President Trump’s order, officials said.

It’s still unclear what — if anything — the administration will do to counter Islamic militants in Nigeria, but precision drone strikes are among the preliminary options being considered.

President Donald J. Trump has threatened possible U.S. military action in Nigeria, saying the United States “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing” if Nigeria’s government fails to stop the killing of Christians.

Trump threatens military action against Nigeria over Christian persecution as Boko Haram survivor Paul Adamu speaks out in support of CPC designation.

Earlier, U.S. lawmaker Riley M. Moore called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.

Northern Nigeria has endured years of insecurity as jihadist groups and armed criminals terrorise communities, forcing thousands to flee their homes. A recent social media post claims to show a video of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a north-central Nigerian state with seized military assets.

Despite the number of fatalities from terrorism in Nigeria, it is difficult to delineate the killings based on religious affiliations.