Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, called the Christmas Day US military bombings on Islamist militants in Sokoto State a “blessing,” demonstrating Nigeria’s willingness to increase security cooperation with the US.

Tinubu, speaking to Fox News Digital during a week-long visit to the United States, hailed the intervention in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against rebel 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 aroused debate in US political circles, particularly considering Nigeria’s previous designation as a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom, which the Tinubu administration denies.

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 noted actions made by the federal government, such as declaring a security emergency, planning to recruit 50,000 police officers, and redeploying over 11,000 cops from VIP duties to dangerous 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.”

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