The Federal Government has dismissed allegations made in a viral video by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of Niger Republic, that Nigeria and France conspired to destabilise his country.
In a statement released yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Tchiani’s assertion as an imagination.
He noted that Nigeria has never engaged in any covert or overt alliance with France or any other nation to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilise Niger Republic due to its political situation.
The minister highlighted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his role as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has demonstrated exemplary leadership by keeping the dialogue open with Niger Republic despite the ongoing crisis in that country.
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Tchiani alleged in the viral video that the Nigerian government was aware of the formation of the Lakurawa terrorist group but chose to ignore it.
Tchiani claimed he contacted the top echelons of Nigeria’s security agencies to inform them of the situation, adding that the Federal Government subsequently sent a delegation to Niamey, which directly interacted with captured terrorists in Niger’s custody.
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Tchiani alleged that Niger later discovered that the Nigerian government was aware of a supposed plan by France to create a buffer zone between Sokoto and Zamfara borders to accommodate the new terrorist group.
However, Idris said that Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and a strong diplomatic relationship with Niger.
He noted the successes of Nigeria’s armed forces in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force in combating terrorism within the region. Idris called it absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with a foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.
