Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for a more balanced and accurate global understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges.
She also cautioned against misrepresentation which, according to her, could undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, in a statement, quoted the president’s wife as saying this Wednesday at a meeting with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Rev Justin Welby, in Abuja.
The meeting essentially centred on interfaith dialogue and ways towards achieving lasting peace and harmony in the country.
According to her, while Nigeria seeks to confront complex security issues, the international community must support ongoing efforts by avoiding “inaccurate framing of the situation.”
Remi Tinubu said: “The world must get the right perspective of the various challenges in the nation to be able to proffer appropriate solutions,” explaining that conflict resolution requires listening to all sides before drawing conclusions.
She lauded the cleric for his view that Nigeria’s challenges are best addressed by Nigerians who understand the country’s peculiarities, stressing that inclusive dialogue remains key to resolving tensions.
According to her, “listening to one side of the story and then concluding is a wrong approach to conflict resolution.”
The First Lady, who commended the Armed Forces for their continued sacrifices in tackling insecurity, also called on religious institutions globally to promote values that foster peaceful coexistence.
She further charged the Church to “preach right so that people can live right.”
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Welby said his visit was part of efforts to advance peace-building initiatives and reinforce Nigeria’s image as a country that upholds freedom of worship.
The cleric said a new round of interfaith dialogue is scheduled to hold in London under the auspices of the Global Forum for Peace, Abu Dhabi, led by Sheikh Abdallah Bin Baya.
He said the forum is expected to l bring together 12 Christian and 12 Muslim leaders to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at addressing interfaith conflicts, not only in Nigeria but globally.
“We want to contribute to what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing to promote peace. All we are after is enduring peace,” he said.
Also on the visit to the First Lady was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.
…Bosun visits, too
Also, the First Lady hosted the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who briefed her on progress made under the ministry’s Girls in Tech programme.
Addressing the State House correspondents after the meeting, the minister said the First Lady would host a dinner in Abuja to showcase innovations developed by participants in the initiative.
Tijani also told newsmen that she had agreed to serve as the face of a new campaign aimed at deepening internet penetration and expanding connectivity in rural and riverine communities.
….Senate worries over rising attacks
Meanwhile, the Senate Wednesday frowned at mounting casualties from renewed terror attacks, urging the Armed Forces to take urgent steps to halt assaults on military formations in the North-East.
The red chamber condemned the attacks and observed a minute of silence in honour of fallen military personnel and affected civilians.
The lawmakers also directed the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to carry out a comprehensive operational and logistical audit of the incidents in Monguno and Benisheikh.
They specifically directed that the review should assess “equipment adequacy, operational readiness and rules of engagement,” with a view to addressing gaps exposed by the attacks.
It also urged the Armed Forces to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law, improve training on civilian protection, and “thoroughly investigate any allegations of civilian harm… with a view to ensuring accountability and preventing recurrence.”
The lawmakers also called on residents of affected communities to support security agencies with timely intelligence, stressing that local cooperation remains critical to counter-insurgency efforts.
In addition, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to provide urgent relief to displaced persons and victims of attacks across Niger, Kwara, Borno and neighbouring states.
It also called for intensified efforts to rescue 416 women, elderly persons and children reportedly held in captivity in Borno South since March 3, 2026.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno and co-sponsored by Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Shehu Lawan Kaka, after recent attacks on military bases in Monguno and Benisheikh, which lawmakers said resulted in the deaths of several officers and soldiers, including senior military personnel.
Monguno, in his lead debate, said the incidents reflected a “deliberate attempt by insurgents to undermine military operations and disrupt humanitarian and commercial access routes,” particularly along the strategic Damaturu–Maiduguri corridor.
He added that repeated assaults on Monguno, a major garrison town, and Benisheikh, a key transit hub, underscored evolving insurgent tactics and the need for urgent operational review.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi ( Bauchi Central), advocated a temporary suspension of political activities in states experiencing persistent violence, including Borno, Plateau, Bauchi and Benue.
“We must, as a matter of urgency, consider suspending political activities in areas experiencing constant attacks until insecurity is contained,” he said.
Ningi also called for deeper legislative oversight of the war effort. “Whether funds have been released or ammunition procured, the National Assembly—particularly the Senate—must call those involved in this warfare to brief us on what is happening,” he added.
Also contributing, Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central) , described the attacks on military formations as part of a broader attempt to destabilise public confidence.
…Terrorists kill 11 in Borno community
In a related development, at least 11 people have been killed in an attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Pubagu village in the Askira Uba local government area of Borno state, residents and a local official have said.
The assailants also burnt a church during the attack, but did not destroy homes or loot property, according to the councillor representing the area, Usman Remirgo.
“Eleven people were killed. They burnt one church… they did not burn houses or shops, and they did not take anything,” Remirgo told Premium Times in a phone interview.
He said the victims were buried shortly after the attack, following a visit to the community by security personnel, local government officials and residents.
The chairman of Askira Uba local government area, Mada Saidu, who visited the community after the attack, also confirmed the killings.
In a statement, Saidu said the attackers, whom he described as Boko Haram insurgents, also burnt a church and several properties, while two persons sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.
…Fresh reports of killings
Remirgo also reported that nine people were killed in a separate attack in the neighbouring Mayolade community around the same period.
However, Premium Times could not independently verify the Mayolade incident as of the time of filing this report.
The councillor said the attacks are part of a pattern of repeated assaults on communities in the Askira Uba axis, noting that Mayolade and another community, Wachirakabi, had been attacked within the past month.
Also, another credible source from Askira Uba local government area told Premium Times that several residents from Lagunasara community, also in te local government area were abducted during a recent attack but were later released after paying nine million naira as ransom.
The incident, reported separately from the Pubagu and Mayolade attacks, suggests a widening pattern of violence across communities in the area.
The medium could not independently verify the abduction and release.
…Indiscriminate violence
According to Mr Remirgo, the attackers did not target victims based on religion or identity.
“They killed everyone they saw. It was not about Christians or anyone in particular,” he said.
Although a church—believed to be an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (E.Y.N.) congregation—was burnt in Pubagu, he said the killings were indiscriminate.
Police are unable to confirm
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Daso Kenneth, said he would make inquiries but could not confirm the incident at the time of filing this report. (Additional reports from Premium Times)
