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We are Not at War with Niger, Nigeriens- ECOWAS

Published

2 years ago

August 26, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

We are Not at War with Niger, Nigeriens- ECOWAS

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said the plan military action in Niger is not a war on the country or its people but to give them back the good they deserved.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray said that the regional bloc has not taken and would never take any action against the interest of Niger.

He said: “We would like to use the opportunity to reassure the good people of Niger Republic that our major concern is for their welfare as we work assiduously to restore civilian rule and political stability in the country, and indeed in the other ECOWAS Member States currently under military rule, in the spirit of solidarity and collective security which is at the heart of our integration agenda.”

Touray lamented that: “Coup d’etat is a tragedy for our regional efforts at consolidating democracy after the political crises of the 90’s exemplified by the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Through collective efforts of our community, the region was stabilized and the foundation for democracy and the rule of law restored.

“Indeed, until about three years ago, all leaders in the ECOWAS region were democratically elected. Unfortunately, the ill winds of coups started blowing again recently and the region has experienced three successful coups and two failed coups. The current development in the Republic of Niger adds to the list of attempted coups d’état in the region. So, you can understand why the Heads of State and Government have decided that this is one coup too many and resolved that it was time to end the contagion. The situation in the Republic of Niger is particularly unfortunate as it comes at a time the country is doing comparatively well in terms of security and economic growth.”

Justifying the decision on the planned deployment of the standby force, Touray said: “The ECOWAS security architecture, which has informed other security arrangements within and outside the region, is anchored on a number of instruments. These include the 1991 ECOWAS Declaration of Political Principles; the Revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1993, the 1999 ECOWAS Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security as well as the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“The deployment of the ECOWAS Standby force is provided for in the 1999 Mechanism. Specifically, Article 25 expressly stipulates the conditions for the deployment of such a force. Among other conditions, the article provides that the force can be deployed ‘in the event of… an overthrow or an attempted overthrow of a democratically elected government.’ Furthermore, the Supplementary Act of 2012 also provides for sanctions to be invoked against members that fail to honour their obligations to ECOWAS. It also provides for the use of legitimate force in the restoration of constitutional order. Niger Republic is a signatory to all these instruments. Those who challenge the legality of the decision of ECOWAS Heads of State need to do more research.”

He explained that: “In taking its decision of 30th July and 10th August 2023, the Authority of Heads of State and government was only activating these provisions. Unfortunately, this decision has been taken out of context and repeatedly misrepresented in the media as a declaration of war against Niger Republic or a planned invasion of the country. It is even tragic that some influential persons in the Community have promoted this narrative which has been hyped in the social media as the gospel truth. These persons have conveniently ignored the strenuous efforts of the community to engage with the junta to reverse the attempted coup.”

He added that: “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally that ECOWAS has neither declared war on the people of Niger nor is there a plan, as it is being purported, to ‘invade’ the country. The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has only activated a full-scale application of sanctions which includes the use of legitimate force to restore constitutional order.”

He said: “In the interim, the region is employing other elements of its instruments and engaging with the military authorities as can be attested to by the several missions that have been fielded to the country and our joint efforts with our partners, including the African Union and the UN. We are hopeful that these diplomatic efforts will yield the desired outcome and make it unnecessary for the deployment of the force.”

Touray while stating that there is no specified date for the use of force to return democratic governance back to Niger, said the military option is still on the table.

He said: “Nonetheless, preparations continue towards making the force ready for deployment. Consequently, the technical arms of the decision-making organs, which include the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff have also been directed to prepare the community enforcement mechanism in case it becomes compelling to deploy the force.”

He however said: “We believe that even now it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d’état. ECOWAS also wishes to remind them of their responsibility for the security and safety of President Bazoum, members of his family and government.

“At this juncture let me reiterate that the real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coups d’etat in the region. We are all brothers irrespective of the artificial borders but the rule of law has to be upheld.

“The uncontitutional action of the military has plunged the people of Niger into serious socio-economic crises. In other words, Nigeriens are suffering today because a section of the military, which should be focused on its constitutional role, decided to hijack the political institutions and subvert democracy.

“The truth is, neither Niger nor the West African sub region needs such a major distraction at this time and we would all like to see the defence and security forces of Niger Republic immediately return to their constitutional role, a role in which they have performed creditably as exemplified in their fight against terrorism and sterling performance in the Multinational Joint Tasks Force in the Lake Chad Basin Area, and in many areas within the Liptako-Gourma region.

“The decision of the Heads of State and Government to activate the clause providing for the application of legitimate force in Niger was reached only after due consideration of how political dialogue alone has unfortunately failed to deter coup plotters in the region. The precedents in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are unsettling and underline the reason why the Community was obliged to take such a hard but legitimate stance, backed by the ‘ECOWAS Community law which I must stress again was subscribed to by all the Member States, including Niger Republic.

“The actions of the Community have been guided by a recognition of the Community’s obligation within the context of the spirit of solidarity and collective responsibility that underlines the ECOWAS integration arrangement. We recognize Republic of Niger as an important member of the ECOWAS family, and it remains so to date. It is not a target for destruction by ECOWAS, and ECOWAS will never allow the people of Niger to suffer in the hands of enemies within or without.

We are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the people and the country. Historically, military administrations have not demonstrated any capacity to better deal with complex political, social and security challenges. The security situation in countries under military government have rather deteriorated, as national territories are being lost to terrorists under their administration even though this has become the main justification for their intervention.

“In most cases, the rights and freedom of the citizens are also inevitably curtailed, with arbitrary arrests, detentions, and use of excessive force becoming the order of the day. The social cohesion in these countries is weakening by the day and it will take years to restore. We do not want this in Niger Republic.

He however lamented that “fifth columnists have unfortunately been misrepresenting our decisions and actions, deriding regional authorities as being tele-guided by foreign powers with nefarious intentions. Let me remind everyone that ECOWAS is a community of rules and regulations, norms, and values.
“These principles, which have been accumulated over the 48 years of its existence, and they underpin its actions. It is undeniable that these admirable principles have made the region an exemplar among Regional Economic Communities within and outside Africa, and many look up to it for inspiration. We are therefore not under the dictate of any extra-regional power or interests. Our interest is rather the protection of the rights of our people with the objective of building a rules-based community and fostering peace and prosperity for all in our region.”

He added that: “So, while we are determined to bend over backwards to accommodate diplomatic efforts, we are not unaware of the true intentions of some of the members of the Niger junta. At first, they snubbed our diplomatic efforts but recently began to show signs of being amenable, only for them to take a dangerous path by putting in place a government, and an unacceptable transition timeline.

He said that “the decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, which is currently chaired by HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is to work for the peaceful restoration of civilian rule in Niger Republic without any delay and to use all the instruments at the disposal of ECOWAS towards the attainment of this goal.

“As for the other countries in transition, namely Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, ECOWAS will continue to support their transition processes, as directed by
the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. We will continue to support their fight against terrorism to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in our community. We will also continue to work with them on their agreed transition timetables.”

He said: “Regarding the mercenaries, let me say this, ECOWAS and the African continent as a whole stand against the use of private military contractors and again, we have continental instruments as against the use of private military contractors on the continent.”

We are Not at War with Niger, Nigeriens- ECOWAS

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How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau

Published

6 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

The recent attack on an illegal mining site in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has again exposed the sustained fragility of security and the precarious balance between herders and local communities in the state.

On the night of 16 December 2025, gunmen, reportedly dressed in military attire, stormed a mining site at Tosho Community, rounded up illegal miners, and demanded information about the location of cattle stolen from Nding Community on 10 December. The attack left 12 miners dead, three abducted, and several others injured.

Zagazola Makama report that the attack was retaliatory, linked to the rustling of 171 cattle across Nding and Bakin Kogi communities earlier in the month. The victims, miners who were present at the site despite an extant ban on night mining, were particularly vulnerable due to the clandestine nature of the operations and the delayed reporting of the attack to security forces. Troops of Sector 2 Operation Enduring Peace responded early the following morning, conducting offensive operations to rescue the abducted and secure the area.

However, the Fann District attack represents only the latest episode in a rapidly escalating cycle of reprisal violence across Plateau State. Within days, coordinated assaults on pastoral communities in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs resulted in the rustling of 168 cattle, while nine additional cows reportedly died after grazing on poisoned substances in Kwi village, Riyom LGA. These attacks, illustrated the deepening insecurity that continues to place herders, farmers and other vulnerable communities alike at risk.

In a further escalation, four children were killed in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, allegedly in reprisal for the earlier cattle rustling. Victims included Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3. Community sources indicated that the attack occurred amid a climate of fear, with residents warning that reprisals were imminent if no preventive action was taken.

Another disturbing incident in Gero village, Jos South LGA, saw the killing and injury of at least 10 cattle, reportedly by Berom militias targeting Fulani herders. Twelve others were left fatally wounded. Local sources indicated that repeated complaints to authorities regarding such attacks had yielded little response, fostering a perception of selective intervention that largely reacts to incidents affecting one side of the conflict.

Zagazola Makama, have long warned in a series of articles of this predictable pattern: attacks on herders, particularly cattle rustling and livestock poisoning, often trigger retaliatory strikes against innocent civilians, which triggers continued attacks. Despite repeated alerts, the Plateau State government and other concerned authorities have been accused of inaction or selective enforcement, which some residents allege has emboldened criminal actors and state-supported militias.

This growing environment of impunity has left communities vulnerable and created conditions where reprisal attacks are almost inevitable. While the recent attacks are universally condemned, a critical review shows that violence in Plateau often escalates when perpetrators operate with little fear of prosecution or accountability. The complicity of certain local militias and the failure of government to intervene decisively have deepened the cycle, placing innocent civilians including women and children at the highest risk.ll

Zagazola emphasized that unless the Plateau State Government and security agencies implement robust measures to arrest perpetrators on all sides, prosecute offenders, and engage in non-kinetic conflict resolution, the state is likely to witness further retaliatory violence. Immediate steps are required to address both the underlying causes of insecurity and the selective handling of incidents, which currently fuels perceptions of bias and aggravates existing ethno-religious and pastoral-farming tensions.

Without decisive action, Plateau State will continue to experience a self-perpetuating cycle of violence, where acts of aggression against one community invariably provoke retaliatory strikes on another, leaving the most vulnerable particularly children bearing the heaviest burden.

How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau

News

Relief as Navy supports Gombe community with school, water projects

Published

10 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Relief as Navy supports Gombe community with school, water projects

By Hajara Leman

The Nigerian Navy on Friday inaugurated a 600-litre capacity borehole and a school at Dungaje community in Cham District of Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The projects were executed under the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas’ Special Intervention Quick Impact Project.

The gesture was in recognition of Rear Admiral Ayuba Chuguli (rtd), outstanding service to the nation and the Nigerian Navy.

Inaugurating the projects, Abbas said the project was conceived by the Naval Headquarters as a mark of appreciation for Chuguli’s.

Abbas was represented by the project facilitator, Rear Admiral Ayuba Chuguli (rtd).

He said the projects inaugurated include three solar-powered boreholes with a combined capacity of 600 litres, three blocks of classrooms comprising nine classrooms, and staff quarters for primary and junior secondary schools, among other interventions.

“The inauguration of this 600-litre boreholes is not only to honour Rear Admiral Chuguli’s meritorious service, but also to support the health and daily needs of Dungaje, Kwarge and Jublan communities, all in Mona Ward of Cham District, Balanga LGA.

“Access to clean water is essential to public health, and this project reflects our commitment to community development,” he said.

The state deputy governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, urged members of the community to take full ownership of facilities executed by government and individuals to ensure sustainability and long-term benefits.

“Government alone cannot guarantee the longevity of such projects without the active involvement of beneficiaries.W hen communities see projects as their own, they are more likely to safeguard them against vandalism, misuse and neglect,” he said.

Jatau urged residents, particularly youths and community leaders, to work together to ensure effective protection and utilisation of the facilities.

He also commended individuals and development partners who contributed to community development, noting that such efforts complement government initiatives and accelerate grassroots development.

The Paramount Ruler of Cham, Dr James Chachis, lauded the Nigerian Navy for bringing the water project to the area, describing it as timely and impactful.

He said the borehole would significantly reduce water-related challenges being faced by residents, especially women and children.

The traditional ruler called on other public-spirited individuals in the community to emulate the project facilitator by contributing to development initiatives.

Relief as Navy supports Gombe community with school, water projects

News

Adeleke appeals to Army to prevent bandits’ infiltration into Osun from Kwara

Published

11 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Adeleke appeals to Army to prevent bandits’ infiltration into Osun from Kwara

By: Zagazola Makama

Ademola Adeleke of Osun on Saturday appealed to the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts at preventing the infiltration of bandits into the state from neighbouring Kwara.

Adeleke made the appeal while speaking at the Passing Out Parade of the 89 Regular Recruits Intake held at the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo.

The governor, who described the event as significant to national security, said the ceremony underscored the critical role of the military in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and defending the Constitution.

He commended the Nigerian Army for its decades of service in maintaining both internal and external peace, noting that the Army, in collaboration with other services, the Police and security agencies, had remained central to the containment of terrorism, banditry and communal conflicts.

“For us as a state government, we have enjoyed a very close partnership with the Nigerian Army and the entire military establishment. From my hometown and across the state, our engagement with servicemen has continued to deliver peace and stability,” he said.

Adeleke said Osun had remained one of the most peaceful states in the country largely due to the sacrifices and dedication of the military and other security agencies, stressing that the state government deeply appreciated the efforts of servicemen and women.

He disclosed that troops were currently deployed in border communities between Osun and neighbouring states to conduct special operations aimed at containing banditry and kidnapping.

“Our dear Army Chief, your men are currently around the border towns between Osun and Kwara States conducting special operations to contain banditry and kidnapping. We are very grateful for this support,” the governor said.

He, however, appealed for sustained military presence to prevent any infiltration of bandits into Osun from Kwara State, describing the threat as real but expressing confidence that the ongoing operations would succeed.

Addressing the newly passed-out recruits, Adeleke urged them to remain dedicated to the values and ethos of military service, reminding them that they were joining an institution widely acknowledged as the heartbeat of the nation.

“You have a duty to remain loyal to the Nigerian Army, the Constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

The governor also called on political leaders across the country to adopt dialogue and consensus-building in resolving governance challenges, noting that political solutions would reduce tension and ease the burden on the military and other security agencies.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for promoting inclusiveness in governance, saying such an approach would strengthen national unity and stability.

Adeleke assured that the Osun State Government remained committed to peaceful political engagement and harmony, adding that this would enable security agencies to focus on their core responsibilities of protecting lives and property.

The passing-out parade was attended by senior military officers, traditional rulers, government officials, serving and retired military personnel, other security operatives and representatives of the media.

Adeleke appeals to Army to prevent bandits’ infiltration into Osun from Kwara