Niger Military Junta’s Claim of Foreign Army in Sokoto Deemed Unfounded
Residents of border communities in Sokoto State have strongly rejected the recent claims made by the Head of Military Junta in the Niger Republic. The military leader had accused Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration of collaborating with the French Army to launch an attack on the Niger Republic. However, investigations conducted in communities like Tangaza and Gudu in Sokoto have shown these allegations to be unfounded.
Speaking to news outlets, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu, the Traditional Ruler of Balle in the Gudu local government area of Sokoto, categorically denied the existence of any foreign military camps within his jurisdiction. He dismissed the allegations as baseless and clarified that his people, engaged primarily in agriculture and trade, had never reported any such military presence in the area.
“The claim by the Nigerien Military leader is completely false,” Aliyu stated in an interview with the media on Friday. “If there were any foreign military camps operating here, my people would have informed me immediately.”
In a similar vein, Malam Abdurahman Shehu, another prominent community leader, confirmed that towns like Marake, Kudula, and Bikini, which are located just a few kilometers from the Niger Republic, have never encountered any foreign military presence. “The people here have never seen any foreign military camps,” Shehu said, stressing that they maintained good relations with their Nigerian counterparts across the border.
Malam Kabiru Muhammad, a resident of Ruwa-Wuri in Tangaza local government, acknowledged that while local bandits such as the Lakurawa group sometimes trespass through the area, no foreign military has ever entered the community. “Bandits may come from time to time, but they are dealt with by our Nigerian military stationed in the area,” Muhammad explained.
Ibrahim, a commercial motorcyclist from Ruwa-Wuri, also weighed in, stating that he had been operating in the area for over five years and had never once encountered a foreign army. “I travel to Niger Republic every day and I’ve never seen any foreign soldiers. If I say I did, it would be a lie,” Ibrahim said.
Similarly, Ibrahim Mutolib, the chairman of the Ruwa-Wuri cattle market, emphasized that the relationship between Sokoto’s border communities and Nigerien locals has always been peaceful, especially in the trade and agricultural sectors. “We have always maintained good relations with our neighbors in Niger,” he added, rejecting the idea that any foreign military presence was disturbing the peace of the region.
In conclusion, the claims of the presence of a French military camp near Sokoto’s border with the Niger Republic have been debunked by local authorities and residents alike, who stress that their communities are peaceful and unaffected by such allegations.
