US airstrikes in Nigeria is a blessing; we are expecting that there will be more – Remi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has described the Christmas Day U.S. military airstrikes on Islamist militants in Sokoto State as a “blessing,” indicating Nigeria’s openness to expanded security cooperation with the United States.

Speaking to Fox News Digital during a week-long visit to the U.S., Tinubu welcomed the intervention amid Nigeria’s ongoing fight against insurgent groups and armed criminal networks.

“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” she said, adding that Nigeria is pushing for stronger security collaboration. “Nigeria is looking forward to collaboration” with the US on security issues. “We are expecting that there will be more.”

The strikes have sparked debate in U.S. political circles, especially following Nigeria’s earlier designation as a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom, an assessment the Tinubu administration disputes.

Addressing the security situation, Tinubu said, “Terrorist groups hide in the forest, and also bandits and other people are kidnapping for ransom,” adding, “We are concerned about our people’s safety.”

She cited steps taken by the federal government, including declaring a security emergency, plans to recruit 50,000 police officers, and redeploying over 11,000 officers from VIP duties to troubled areas.

On international criticism regarding attacks on Christian communities, she said, “We have that attention. We have the conversation going. And we are expecting that there will be more. You know, it’s going to yield better fruit for us, and both for us and also America.”

Tinubu noted that she used meetings with U.S. officials to explain Nigeria’s realities. “We live in Nigeria. We know the situation on the ground,” she said.

Linking security to economic growth, she added, “We’re doing all we can to make sure that when investors come, they can feel comfortable and their investment can yield.”