HURIWA Backs Oluremi Tinubu’s Call for More U.S. Airstrikes on Terrorists

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has thrown its weight behind the call by Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, for increased United States airstrikes against terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria, describing the position as logical, timely and in line with public expectations.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the pro-democracy and civil rights group said sustained U.S. military action remains critical to dismantling terrorist infrastructure and degrading the capacity of insurgent groups responsible for mass civilian killings across the country.
Mrs. Tinubu had made the remarks during a recent visit to the United States, where she granted an interview to Fox News Digital. In the interview, she described the U.S. Christmas Day airstrike on Islamist militants in northwest Nigeria as a “blessing” and signalled Nigeria’s readiness for deeper security collaboration with Washington.
According to her, the intervention demonstrated the potential impact of international cooperation in confronting terrorism and criminal violence in Nigeria. She added that the Federal Government expects further engagement with the United States in tackling insecurity.
Reacting, HURIWA said the scale of violence and civilian casualties recorded in recent years demands more decisive international support, noting that isolated military actions would be insufficient to dismantle deeply entrenched terrorist networks.
The group argued that follow-up and sustained airstrikes would significantly weaken the command structures, logistics and mobility of terrorist groups operating across northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
HURIWA cited Nigeria’s ranking in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, where the country placed sixth with a score of 7.658, as evidence of the worsening security situation. According to the report released on March 5, Nigeria recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in 2024, reflecting a steady rise in fatalities over the previous two years.
The report further noted that the Islamic State Sahel Province (IS-Sahel) expanded its operations in 2024, launching coordinated attacks across Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, underscoring the transnational nature of the threat.
Based on these developments, HURIWA urged the United States to intensify targeted airstrikes on terrorist camps in Nigeria, stressing that sustained international collaboration is essential to restoring security and safeguarding civilian lives.