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Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad
Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad
By: Zagazola Makama
Niger’s military leader, President Abdourahmane Tchiani, has accused France of supplying weapons and supporting terrorist groups to destabilise the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries.
Speaking in Niamey during the weekend Chat on Niger’s National Television, Tchiani alleged that France, with the backing of Western allies, was fuelling insecurity to weaken the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
According to him, France has allegedly armed ISWAP to sustain instability in Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad.
He also accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of hub nosing with French President Macron.
He claimed that France was using the groups to prevent the AES from consolidating its sovereignty after expelling French troops and asserting control over national resources.
“France and its partners are doing everything possible to remain in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. They want one of our countries to fall so that they can re-enter through the back door,” Tchiani said.
He further alleged that France, alongside the United States, had provided drones and sophisticated weapons to terrorists operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
“In January this year, they initially deployed 150 Boko Haram fighters to occupy positions left Benin, after deadly attack by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), in April 17, 2025, near the country’s northern borders with Burkina Faso and Niger – regions that left 70 Beninese soldiers killed. later, they increased the number of ISWAP fighters to 200, and most recently 250, to launch attacks on Niger and destabilise the wider region. France supplied these groups with arms and stationed them at Udullibi along our porous borders,” he added.
Tchiani recalled that Nigerien and Chadian troops had previously played a critical role in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign, including major operations against ISWAP in Borno State.
He said Generals Muhammadu Toumba of Niger and another senior commander from Chad had led forces that cleared areas from Damasak up to Malam Fatori more than 100 kilometres.
“Relative peace in the region at that time was due to the joint sacrifices of Nigerien and Chadian soldiers, many of whom laid down their lives. But now, France and its partners have shifted the war to our soil because they see our unity in AES as a threat,” he said.
The Nigerien leader also accused France of exploiting uranium, gold and even water resources from Niger for decades while leaving the people in poverty.
He insisted that the AES, formed on Sept. 16, 2024, had empowered its members in security, diplomacy and the economy, and that the bloc was determined to resist foreign interference.
“France fears our success because it will end its exploitation of our natural wealth. That is why they are arming terrorists, shifting the battlefield, and using propaganda to weaken our resolve,” Tchiani declared.
He urged the people of Niger and neighbouring Sahel states to remain vigilant and united, stressing that only collective resistance could ensure lasting peace and sovereignty.
France has not yet formally responded to the latest allegations, but Western governments have consistently denied supporting terrorist groups in the Sahel.
Niger accuses France of arming terrorists with weapons, drones to destabilise Sahel, Lake Chad
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tuba have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Karnuwa general area of Borno State.
Security sources said the operation followed intelligence provided by a local resident, Malam Muhammadu Ardo, concerning alleged cattle rustling activities within the area.
The troops reportedly mobilised to Karnuwa at about 12:30 p.m. on May 4, 2026, where they apprehended the suspects identified as Mallam Mohammad Abatcha, 28; Mallam Mamman Bukar, 18; and Malam Modu Hassan, 30.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while using a pickup vehicle with registration number WW 806 GZ Delta, allegedly employed in transporting stolen cattle.
The rustled cattle were recovered and immediately handed over to their rightful owners at the scene of the arrest.
Items recovered from the suspects included a bow and arrow, three mobile phones, five national identity cards and the sum of N20,650.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspects admitted to repeatedly stealing and selling rustled cattle to buyers in Maiduguri.
Security sources further disclosed that investigators suspect possible links between the suspects and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad due to alleged inconsistencies observed in their statements during interrogation.
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Battalion operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have uncovered an illegal refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
The troops reportedly discovered the illegal refining site around Asa community, where a large cooking pot loaded with stolen crude oil was found stockpiled in sacks.
Military authorities said the recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with operational directives guiding anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.
The operation was conducted without any confrontation or security incident.
The Nigerian military has continued to intensify operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta region.
Troops Discover Illegal Refinery Site, Recover 600 Litres of Stolen Crude in Rivers
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Malumfashi at Kafur, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have raided a suspected drug peddlers’ hideout in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 12:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at Huguma village following intelligence on illicit drug activities within the area.
During the raid, troops apprehended one suspect identified as a major supplier of illicit drugs and other substances to terrorists and criminal elements operating within Kafur Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
Items recovered during the operation included 146 grams of suspected cannabis and 16.5 grams of a substance identified as Exol-5.
The suspect and the recovered drugs have since been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Troops, NDLEA Raid Drug Hideout in Katsina, Arrest Suspected Supplier to Terrorists
Troops Neutralise Two Terrorists in Night Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
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