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Niger’s Shifting Accusations on Pipeline Sabotage – From Nigeria to China

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Niger’s Shifting Accusations on Pipeline Sabotage – From Nigeria to China

By: Zagazola Makama

The mystery surrounding the wave of pipeline explosions in Niger Republic has taken a new twist, as authorities in Niamey shift blame from Nigeria and its allies to China, raising more questions than answers about the actors and motives behind these attacks.

Since the first reported sabotage on June 16, 2024, a series of large-scale explosions have rocked key oil infrastructure, severely disrupting crude oil transportation and exportation. While the Nigerien government initially accused Nigeria, France, and Benin, recent developments suggest a new diplomatic blame game, with China now at the center of the controversy.

For months, Nigerien authorities, particularly elements within the ruling military junta, accused regional and international actors of orchestrating attacks on its pipelines to exert economic and political pressure. The pipeline running from Niger’s Agadem oil field to the Benin coast has been a flashpoint in diplomatic tensions, especially after Benin refused to allow oil shipments over a political dispute with Niamey.

Initially, the First Peoples of the Liberation (FPL) claimed responsibility for the first explosion but have since remained silent on subsequent attacks. This led Niger’s junta to direct its accusations at neighboring countries, alleging that foreign backed sabotage aimed to destabilize its oil dependent economy.

However, in a recent confidential letter, Nigerien officials allegedly, accused China of secretly collaborating with Nigerien rebels to justify a halt in oil production, adding a new dimension to the crisis.

Why China?

China has been a major investor in Niger’s oil industry, funding the construction of the 2,000km-long Niger-Benin pipeline through the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). With exports projected at 90,000 barrels per day, Beijing has significant stakes in Niger’s oil sector.
However, sources within Nigerien intelligence claim that Chinese interests could be benefiting from the attacks, using them as a pretext to renegotiate contracts or pressure Niamey into granting more favorable terms. Others speculate that factions within the Nigerien government could be pushing this narrative to shift public attention away from internal instability and economic hardship.

On the other hand, Chinese diplomatic sources have reportedly dismissed the allegations, suggesting instead that the so-called “petro-kidnappers” a term used for those controlling Niger’s oil resources could be staging these attacks to strengthen their bargaining power in contract negotiations.

Unanswered Questions

Beyond the accusations, several troubling questions remain: Why has no group claimed responsibility for the recent attacks?
How have the attackers managed to strike without being caught or leaving behind suspects? If China is involved, what does it stand to gain by sabotaging infrastructure it helped build? If the accusations against Nigeria and Benin were false, what was the motive behind Niger’s initial claims?

Another major mystery surrounds the Lakurawas, a shadowy group rumored to be involved in the attacks. Despite being frequently mentioned in official circles, the group has never issued a statement or made any demands, raising doubts about its very existence.

Analysts believe the real actors behind the sabotage could be operating from within Niger itself, using the attacks to advance personal or political agendas. By constantly shifting blame from Nigeria to France, Benin, and now China Niger’s junta may be obscuring the true source of the crisis.

Meanwhile, with no arrests, no confirmed perpetrators, and no resolution in sight, the pipeline fires remain a silent riddle, burning through Niger’s economic potential and regional diplomatic ties.

Until the real masterminds are identified, the only certainty is that ordinary Nigeriens remain the biggest victims of this unfolding crisis.

Niger’s Shifting Accusations on Pipeline Sabotage – From Nigeria to China

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State


…Making it the 20th State to Benefit from the Support

By: Our Reporter

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024 to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, has reached Yobe State—making it the 20th state to benefit from the initiative.
Since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe.
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.


The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each beneficiary state for onward distribution. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
These include:

  • The Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each.
  • The RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each.
  • A ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
  • Annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.
  • A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders.
  • The Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
    According to Senator Tinubu, these interventions are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by his Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the state has aligned with RHI through various empowerment programs for women, children, and vulnerable groups. These include the distribution of household items, skill acquisition schemes, and post-insurgency recovery programs that have economically empowered many women.

  • The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
    Also present at the event was Dr. Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, one of the key donors to the program.
  • RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

By: Zagazola Makama

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.

“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.

The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.

According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.

“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.

Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.

He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.

The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.

“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.

The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
End

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