Nigeria has rejected allegations by Nigerian military leader Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani that he colluded with France to destabilize the junta-run country.
In a Christmas interview, General Tchiani accused France of allying with militant groups in the Lake Chad region, allegedly with Nigeria’s knowledge, in order to undermine Niger’s security.
“The Nigerian authorities are well aware of this underhanded move,” General Tchiani was quoted as saying by AFP.
In response, Nigeria’s national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, told BBC Hausa that the allegations were “baseless” and “false”.
Mr Ribadu said Nigeria would never “sabotage Niger or allow disaster to befall Niger”.
Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the allegations were baseless and a “diversionary tactic aimed at covering up his government’s failures.”
“These claims exist entirely in the realm of fantasy. “Nigeria has never formed an overt or covert alliance with France – or any other country – to destabilize the Republic of Niger,” Idris said.
Idris also denied allegations of sabotage of Nigeria’s pipeline and agriculture.
General Tchiani’s allegations have heightened diplomatic tensions with Nigeria, already strained since the 2023 military coup that ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum.
The West African regional bloc Ecowas, led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, imposed economic sanctions on Niger and threatened military intervention if constitutional order was not restored.
Ecowas defended Nigeria on Thursday in a statement denying the claims.
“For years, Nigeria has supported the peace and security of several countries not only in the West African sub-region but also on the African continent,” the regional bloc said in a statement released on Thursday.
“Ecowas therefore rejects any suggestion that such a generous and magnanimous country would become a state sponsor of terrorism,” it said.
Two weeks ago, Ecowas approved the withdrawal of three military-run countries, including Nigerafter refusing to restore democratic rule.
Since the coup, Niger has called on France and other Western powers to withdraw their military bases and formed a security alliance with junta-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.
