By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigerian authorities have reacted to claims by neighbouring Niger that it had sought to destabilise the country by supporting militant groups, saying Niamey’s allegation is unfounded.
The Nigerian foreign ministry, in a statement on Saturday, expressed “strong concern” at allegations that French troops were “in the northern part of the country preparing to destabilise the government of Niger.”
“These allegations are unfounded and should be discarded in their entirety,” the ministry’s statement, which came after Niger summoned a top Nigerian diplomat in protest, stated.
“Despite efforts to normalise relations, we regret that Nigeria has not given up on serving as a rear base for the destabilisation of Niger with the complicity of some foreign powers and officials of the former regime, to whom it offers refuge,” Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said in a statement read on state television Thursday.
Niger had claimed that forces based in Nigeria had assisted in a December 13 attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline by the Lakurawa terrorist group.
Nigeria “refutes in very strong terms” its involvement in the attack, said a statement released by the ministry’s spokesperson. The attackers “were neither backed nor assisted by Nigerian authorities.”
“Nigeria will continue to explore all peaceful means to maintain its cordial relationship with the Republic of Niger,” the statement added.
Relations between the two have deteriorated since the military took power in Niger in 2023 and broke away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, current head of the ECOWAS bloc, had briefly considered a regional military intervention to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
