Niger’s President General Abdourahamane Tchiani has accused Nigeria and France of colluding to sponsor terrorism in the region. He claims that the Lakurawa terrorist group, arrested in Niger, revealed a plot to set up a terrorist base in Sokoto State. The Nigerian government reportedly ignored the intelligence shared.
The President of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has made alarming accusations against the Nigerian government in a viral video, alleging a covert collaboration between Nigeria and France to destabilize Niger and fuel terrorism in the region. According to General Tchiani, Niger’s security forces arrested key members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, who revealed a plot involving the French government to establish a terror camp in a village called Gaba in Sokoto State, Nigeria. He claimed the agreement was signed on March 4, 2024, between ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) and France.
Tchiani further alleged that Nigerian leaders were aware of the plot, and he had shared the intelligence with Nigerian officials, including Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the National Security Adviser. According to Tchiani, the NIA sent a delegation to investigate the claims, but despite their findings confirming the involvement of France and its alleged plans, no action was taken by Nigerian authorities.
The video has raised serious concerns, with Tchiani accusing Nigeria of complicity in the terror plot, despite the country’s ongoing battle with insurgents. The Niger president emphasized that his government felt compelled to act on the intelligence to protect both their nation and their relationship with Nigeria.
The allegations are expected further to strain diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, and calls are growing for clarification from Nigerian authorities, particularly from Nuhu Ribadu, to address these explosive accusations.
