Allegations of Nigerian Government Sponsoring Terrorist Attack in Niger
An Attempt by Nigerien Junta to Cause Disaffection, Group Alleges
The Republic of Niger’s allegation of Nigeria sponsoring terrorism group, Lakurawa to topple the junta-led administration in the francophone country has been described as nothing but fake news and a planned move to cause disaffection in Nigeria going by the strong brotherhood that exists between Nigerians and Nigeriens, a group has claimed.
The group Coalition for the Advancement of Peace and Democracy in West Africa, through their scribe, Rahila Umar, said the actions of the junta were condemnable.
The military junta in the Republic of Niger had alleged that Nigeria, alongside some foreign countries, aided a terrorist group, Lakurawa
in the 13th December 2024 attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Hajia Rahila Umar, the group’s secretary general, said findings have shown that the junta’s claims were false.
Umar, therefore, condemned the military junta’s tactics of dragging Nigeria into its internal issues and thereby causing a crisis among the Nigerian populace.
She said, unfortunately for the junta, the allegation is coming at a time when the government is achieving so much in its efforts to contain terrorism and banditry in the country.
She said: “The Coalition for the Advancement of Peace and Democracy in West Africa condemns, in robust terms, the hostility directed at the Nigerian government by the Military Government in Niger Republic. The recent allegations by the Nigerien authorities that the Lakurawa terrorism group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigerian security forces, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on the 13th of December 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic, is not only grossly misleading but pathetic, Nigeria has been at the forefront of fighting terrorism for more than a decade, sometimes even in conjunction with Nigerien soldiers.
“The public in Niger and Nigeria should note that the attack on the oil pipeline informed that the perpetrators were neither backed nor assisted by Nigerian authorities. They should be reminded that the Government and good people of Nigeria are firmly committed to the fight against terrorism and will not condone or support the activities of such groups.
“The Nigerian Military has a strong history of not accommodating boots on the ground, and the allegations are unfounded and should be discarded. It is essential to state that the relationship between Nigeria and France has always been cordial, and France never colonized Nigeria and has no colonial allegiance to France.
“The Military government in Niger is advised to desist from using fake news to cause disaffection within the Nigerian populace with their propaganda. “
