Nigeria Reaffirms Joint Military Operations with Niger Amid Tensions

The Defence Headquarters has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continuing joint operations and patrols with Nigerien troops, despite recent allegations from Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani. Tchiani accused Nigeria of allowing France to use its territory for destabilizing Niger and allegedly accepting funds from France to establish a military base in Borno State. He claimed that French-backed terrorists were using areas like the Gaba Forest on the Nigerian-Niger border for destabilization efforts.

In response, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, dismissed the allegations as baseless, emphasizing that Nigeria has no history of hosting foreign military bases, including those of France. Ribadu added that Nigeria’s relationship with France has always centered around economic cooperation, not military collaboration. The Nigerian government further rejected the claims, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris calling them diversionary tactics meant to distract from Niger’s internal challenges.

Despite these tensions, Nigeria’s military remains committed to joint security efforts with Niger to combat terrorism and other cross-border threats. Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, assured that joint operations with Nigerien forces would continue. This sentiment was echoed by retired police officer CP Rabiu Ladodo, who highlighted the deep security, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation to address terrorism and banditry along the border.

Concerns over the allegations raised by Niger’s junta leader have been expressed by experts, including retired Commissioner of Police Lawrence Alobi, who warned that such accusations could erode trust between the two countries. However, Alobi emphasized that despite these challenges, the joint military operations between Nigeria and Niger are critical for both nations, especially in the fight against terrorism, and mutual cooperation remains the key to overcoming these security issues.

Efforts by ECOWAS to mediate and rebuild trust between Nigeria and Niger were also noted, with analysts stressing the importance of restoring a strong collaborative relationship between the two nations for the benefit of regional stability.