General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the military in the Niger Republic, claimed that the country’s government was colluding with France, leading to the investigation of the allegations.
This order followed a motion brought to it by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Shehu Buba (Bauchi-South).
While presenting the motion, Buba emphasised that a major concern was Tchiani’s wrongful implication of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, in the alleged conspiracy.
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Tchiani alleged that the Nigerian government was facilitating the terrorist group Lakurawa, which operates in the North-West to establish bases in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
He added that security threats were being posed by foreign military installations in Nigeria, which are targeted at the country’s oil pipelines.
The Senate takes note of the serious and unfounded allegations made by Brig. Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise Niger through a new militia group called Lakurawa, allegedly operating in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
” Also notes that Brig. Gen. Tchiani also alleged plans to establish a base for Lakurawa in a forest near Gaba, Sokoto State, with operational reach extending to Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi States. Additionally, he claimed that foreign military bases in Nigeria are being used to target Niger’s oil pipelines and create security threats.
“Recalls that Nigeria and Niger’s diplomatic relations strained after the coup d’état that hampered Niger’s constitutional order on July 26, 2023. As the head of ECOWAS, Nigeria insisted on the restoration of constitutional democracy. Before the Head of State of Niger’s latest unsubstantiated accusations on December 26, 2024, this had gradually become normal.
In response, the Senate established a four-week-long investigation and submission of a report to its Joint Committee on National Security and Intelligence/Foreign Affairs during plenary, presided over by Barau Jibrin, the Senate’s Deputy President.
Source: Channels TV
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