Niger Republic Accuses Nigeria Of Destabilization & Sabotage, AES Mobilizes Stand-by Forces In Utmost Combat Readiness

Niger Republic Accuses Nigeria Of Destabilization & Sabotage, AES Mobilizes Stand-by Forces In Utmost Combat Readiness  Following the re...

Niger Republic Accuses Nigeria Of Destabilization & Sabotage, AES Mobilizes Stand-by Forces In Utmost Combat Readiness 

Following the recent revelation by the military leader of Niger Republic -  Abdourhamane Tchiani who came to power after a coup de'tat in late July 2023, that the Nigerian government including President Tinubu, alongside other highranking elements in the Nigerian military and intelligence circle are in active connivance with terrorists to destabilize their country at the behest of the French - whom was accused of pursuing and perpetuating imperialistic agenda in the Sahel and respective countries thereof. Thus, they were subsequently forced to leave by the new military authority then. 

Brigadier General Tchiani in a recent televised interview, revealed that the Nigerian government has not only provided a space for the resettlement of the French military contingents ejected simultaneously from Mali, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso otherwise known as the Confederate States of Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) or AES in French, in bordering northern Nigeria states precisely, Sokoto etc but has also enabled  terrorists such as the Boko Haram, ISWAP and the new jihadist group, Lukarawa, to perform sabotage and reconnaissance operations against the Republic and its national assets citing the recent sabotage operations that occurred at the Niger-Benin crude oil pipeline. 

Tchiani zeroed on his findings that the top Nigerian political and military brass are in cahoot with the French, which provides logistics and intelligence assistance to enable the operations of these aforementioned terrorists in striking and performing terror activities. He revealed that there have been attempts for cooperation made from Niger Republic towards the Nigeria side for a joint concerted effort to curtail the terrorists but was intentionally ignored by the Nigerian side. 

"We arrested some top leaders of the Lakurawa terrorist group, and they shared with us a plot by the French government to set up a camp in a village called Gaba in Sokoto State. The agreement was signed on March 4, 2024. The agreement was between ISWAP and the French government. 

“So the forest would serve as an operational base from the terrorists and would be carrying out their heinous activities in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi axis. The terrorists confirmed to us that Nigerian leaders are aware of this plot. Initially we thought he was just joking. 

“And considering our relationship with Nigerians, there is no way we could see anything that is capable of harming the country and keep quiet.We informed the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the office of the National Security Adviser. 

“The NIA boss promised to send a delegation to gather first-hand information on the allegations. He indeed sent a delegation. They visited many places, such as prisons in Niamey, and they interacted with different terrorist groups. The [terrorists] confirmed to the delegation what the French government is plotting. Unfortunately, there was a compromise, and today you see the result ."

Subsequently, the Tinubu's administration and state officials including the Nigerian Chief of defense staff, Gen. Gwabin Musa, and national security advisor, Nuhu Ribadu all denied allegations of the Niger military junta calling it baseless. Although, there was no substantial evidence provided to counter the above assertions of the junta leader during the interview, with regards to the contact which was established for active cooperation but was snubbed by the Nigerian government. 

In the same vein, the ECOWAS has also backed the Nigeria state claims of no involvement, collaboration with the French in sponsorship of these international terrorists. 

However, the AES has raised and mobilized its forces readiness to the highest level, calling on its citizens to shun enticements to join or cooperate with the terrorists. And, has in the past weeks summoned the Nigerian Charge D'affaires for questioning and to register their dissatisfaction. 

According to a joint statement issued by the AES, the Sahel region has become a "single theater of military operations" as the terrorists are being regrouped, provided with logistics and financed extensively by foreign states in the Lake Chad Basin, the wider Sahel and strategic bordering areas to destabilize not only the AES countries but also, the Republic of Chad which has upon recently began to revise its relationship with its former colony, France and has ordered its military contingents stationed in the country to leave before 31st January 2025. 

The already fragile relationship between the AES and ECOWAS continues to deteriorate sharply and the possibilities of a direct and military confrontation between both conflicting institutions continues to develop. The momentary detente that was reached after the Niger Republic coup de'tat and the follow-up threat of invasion by the Nigeria-led ECOWAS to reinstall former president, Mohammed Bazoum is seemingly broken once again. The coup de'tat appears to be the stroke which broke the camel's back. The French and ECOWAS have never remained the same after that. 

Family Writers Press International