The Nigerian Senate has launched an investigation into serious claims made by the military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
General Tchiani accused the Nigerian government of working with France to destabilise Niger’s internal security.
The Senate has tasked its Joint Committees on National Security and Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs with visiting areas mentioned in the allegations, specifically Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi States, to investigate the presence of suspected militia bases.
The motion, which led to these resolutions, was sponsored by Senator Shehu Buba, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
During the session, Senator Buba pointed out that Tchiani’s accusations involved Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, who were wrongly implicated in the alleged conspiracy.
Tchiani’s claims suggest that the Nigerian government has been supporting a terrorist group named Lakurawa, operating in the North-West region of Nigeria, and helping them establish bases in the mentioned states. He further alleged that foreign military bases in Nigeria were being used to target Niger’s oil pipelines and create security issues for the country.
The Senate expressed concern over these unfounded allegations, stressing that they could damage Nigeria’s international relations.
Senator Buba reminded the chamber of the strained diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Niger following the coup in Niger in July 2023, and noted that these new accusations were coming after efforts to restore stability in the region.
“As the head of ECOWAS, Nigeria insisted on the restoration of constitutional democracy. This situation had been gradually normalising before these latest unfounded accusations by the Head of State of Niger on December 26, 2024,” Senator Buba said.
The Senate, under the Constitution, has the authority to review international treaties, and Senator Buba insisted that any effort to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty must be condemned, especially when such claims lack evidence.
In response, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, instructed the joint committees to investigate the matter and present their findings within four weeks.