Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described the United States Christmas Day airstrike against Islamist militants in Sokoto State as a “blessing” for Nigeria. She said the operation showed the strong security partnership between Nigeria and the United States and reflected the current administration’s openness to international cooperation in tackling insecurity.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital, Mrs Tinubu explained that President Bola Tinubu had earlier declared a state of emergency on insecurity on November 26, 2026. According to her, the decision was taken in response to growing global concern over security challenges in Nigeria, including attacks on communities and religious groups.

She highlighted several measures taken by the federal government, including the recruitment of 50,000 additional police officers and 24,000 soldiers to strengthen internal security. Mrs Tinubu also revealed that over 10,000 forest guards have been armed to flush out terrorists and bandits hiding in forests, while more than 11,500 police officers previously assigned to VIP duties were redeployed to security hotspots across the country.

The First Lady stressed that Nigeria remains committed to freedom of religion and the safety of all citizens, as guaranteed by the constitution. She added that the government is focused on restoring peace to encourage economic growth and investor confidence, noting that the country is willing to work with foreign partners who genuinely want to support Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.