The Head of State of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has accused France of planning to establish a terrorist operational center in Gaba, a forested area in Sokoto State, Nigeria. He further alleged that Nigerian authorities are complicit in these plans, which he claims are aimed at destabilizing Niger and other neighboring countries.
According to Tiani, intelligence gathered from captured terrorists revealed France’s intention to use the “Lakurawa” terrorist group to build the operational base. He stated that Niger’s intelligence services had passed this information to Nigerian authorities for verification, but no significant action was taken.
In a detailed account, Tiani disclosed that his administration contacted Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the former Director-General of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), to investigate the matter. However, he alleged that Abubakar mishandled the intelligence and suggested that he may have connections to the terrorist network.
Tiani also accused France of arming terrorist groups in the region, including Boko Haram, with advanced weaponry to counter military forces. “It is France that provided weapons to Boko Haram terrorists so they could target military jets, including those from Chad. On October 16, France supplied weapons to terrorists in the region,” Tiani claimed.
The Nigerien leader further alleged that France and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) are collaborating to establish operational centers in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states. He said Nigerian authorities were fully aware of these developments but failed to act, leaving the security of the region at risk.
“We received intelligence on March 4 that France and ISWAP planned to create operational bases in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara to prepare for terrorist activities,” Tiani stated.
He added that officials from Niger initially dismissed the claims as baseless until captured terrorists provided further corroboration. “We felt it was our duty, as neighbors, to report this intelligence to Nigeria, but the responses we received have been disappointing,” he said.
In a Report by Sahara Reporter, General Tiani also accused France of using its presence in West Africa to destabilize countries opposing its influence. He alleged that France is funding a military base in Borno State, Nigeria, under the pretense of combating terrorism but with an ulterior motive of weakening Niger and other countries in the region.
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“France has also established a base in Benin Republic to monitor and undermine neighboring nations opposed to their operations,” Tiani added.
The Nigerien leader expressed frustration over what he described as misplaced trust in individuals and institutions tasked with handling these security threats. He mentioned that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is reportedly aware of the issue but has remained silent.
“This situation has left us questioning who we can trust. As a result, Niger is now considering taking independent action if the Lakurawa terrorists are arrested,” Tiani concluded.
