A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has endorsed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent support for the United States’ airstrikes against terrorist groups in Sokoto State, calling her stance justified.
Sani, who questioned ongoing public criticism against Mrs Tinubu, described the December 2025 US airstrikes in the northwestern state as a “welcome development.”
Speaking on Tuesday via his X handle, he called for more air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force.
“The December air strikes against bandits and terrorists in the North was a welcome development.
“More strikes by our Air Force are needed against those mass murderers, rapists and kidnappers,” Sani, who served as a senator for Kaduna Central from 2015 to 2019, wrote.
“What Senator Remi said is right. I don’t know why some people are attacking her in view of the heinous atrocities of those terrorists,” he added.
The airstrikes in question occurred on December 25, 2025, when U.S. forces, in coordination with the Nigerian government, reportedly targeted Islamic State (IS) militants in Sokoto State near the border with Niger.
President Donald Trump referred to the action as a “Christmas present,” claiming it decimated IS targets responsible for attacks on Christians.
U.S. Africa Command reported that the strikes killed multiple militants, though some sources suggested the attacks hit empty farmlands or unoccupied camps.
The First Lady praised the strikes during a visit to Washington, D.C., last week.
In an interview with Fox News, she described the U.S. intervention as a “blessing” and expressed hope for deeper collaboration on security issues, including intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations.
“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development.
“Nigeria looks forward to greater collaboration with the United States on security issues, and we expect there will be more,” she said.
Her comments came amid scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over religious violence in Nigeria, with Trump having designated Nigeria a country of particular concern.
