Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has endorsed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent support for United States airstrikes against terrorist groups in Sokoto State, describing her position as justified amid ongoing security challenges in the North.
Sani, who questioned the criticism directed at the First Lady, described the December 2025 airstrikes in the northwestern state as a “welcome development” in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
Speaking on Monday via his X handle, the former senator called for intensified aerial operations by the Nigerian Air Force against armed groups operating in the region.
“The December air strikes against bandits and terrorists in the North was a welcome development,” Sani wrote.
“More strikes by our Air Force are needed against those mass murderers, rapists and kidnappers.”
He added, “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.”
The airstrikes under discussion reportedly took place on December 25, 2025, when United States forces, in coordination with the Nigerian government, targeted suspected Islamic State (IS) militants in Sokoto State near the Niger Republic border.
At the time, U.S. President Donald Trump described the operation as a “Christmas present,” claiming it significantly degraded IS targets allegedly responsible for attacks on Christian communities.
While the U.S. Africa Command said multiple militants were killed during the operation, some reports suggested that the strikes may have hit empty farmlands or unoccupied camps.
The First Lady publicly praised the airstrikes during a visit to Washington, D.C., last week.
In an interview with Fox News, Mrs Tinubu described the U.S. intervention as a “blessing” and expressed optimism about deeper cooperation between Nigeria and the United States on security matters, including intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations.
“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” she said.
“Nigeria looks forward to greater collaboration with the United States on security issues, and we expect there will be more.”
Her comments came amid heightened scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over religious violence in Nigeria, following the designation of the country as a nation of particular concern by the Trump administration.