Nigeria will never sabotage Niger or allow any disaster to befall it-Ribadu

By Suhaib Auwal 

The Nigerian Presidential Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has dismissed allegations made by Niger's army chief, General Abdulrahman Tchiani, accusing Nigeria and France of arming bandits and setting up camps to destabilize Niger.

General Tchiani made the claims during an interview published on Niger’s official website, alleging that these camps were part of a conspiracy to overthrow his regime.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Malam Ribadu refuted the allegations as baseless and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining peaceful relations with Niger. 

“These accusations are unfounded. Nigeria will never sabotage Niger or allow any disaster to befall it.”

Ribadu also addressed historical context, noting, “Even England, which ruled Nigeria, never deployed its troops here without proper agreement. The same applied to France in Niger. We have always respected sovereignty, so these accusations are uncalled for.”

Regarding claims that Nigeria provided French troops with a base on an island in Borno State, near Chad, Ribadu challenged the Nigerien leader to present evidence. 

“General Tchiani knows Nigeria very well. Let journalists and independent observers verify these claims.” 

Ribadu emphasized that Nigeria’s primary concern is combating terrorism within its borders and fostering regional cooperation. 

“They should maintain their military rule in Niger, but understand that Nigeria is not their problem. The terrorists we are fighting are a shared challenge we should tackle together.”

He also cautioned Niger against replacing one foreign influence with another, adding, “If they expel the French only to bring others, they are merely exchanging one problem for another. We gave similar advice in the past, but it went unheeded.”

Ribadu reiterated Nigeria’s desire for mutual respect and collaboration, stating, “Nigeria and Niger are like brothers. Our peoples are interconnected, and we must work together for the development of our nations.”

The tensions come amid allegations by Nigerien diplomats that Nigeria is harboring allies of former Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, who are accused of plotting to destabilize the current regime. 

Despite these accusations, Ribadu called for unity, urging both nations to focus on addressing shared challenges for the benefit of their citizens.