Nigeria Denies Niger’s Accusations of Collusion with France to Destabilize Junta
Nigeria has strongly rejected claims by Niger’s military leader, Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani, accusing it of collaborating with France to destabilize the junta-led nation.
During a Christmas Day interview, Gen Tchiani alleged that France was working with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to compromise Niger’s security, implying Nigeria was complicit.
“Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this scheme,” Gen Tchiani told AFP.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, dismissed the allegations as “false” and “baseless” in an interview with BBC Hausa. He emphasized that Nigeria would never harm Niger or allow any threats to its stability.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris also described the claims as unfounded, labeling them a “diversionary tactic to mask the junta’s shortcomings.”
“These allegations are pure fiction. Nigeria has never collaborated with France or any other nation to destabilize Niger,” Idris asserted, denying additional accusations of sabotaging Niger’s pipeline and agricultural sectors.
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The accusations have escalated tensions between the two nations, already strained since Niger’s 2023 military coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
The regional bloc Ecowas, led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, defended Nigeria, dismissing the allegations in a statement.
“For years, Nigeria has been a pillar of peace and security in West Africa and beyond,” the statement read. “It is unthinkable that such a nation would support terrorism.”
Earlier this month, Ecowas expelled Niger and two other military-led nations for refusing to restore democratic governance.
Since the coup, Niger has urged France and Western powers to withdraw military bases and has aligned with junta-led neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso to form a regional security pact.
Nigeria Denies Niger’s Accusations of Collusion with France to Destabilize Junta
