President Abdourahmane Tchiani of Niger Republic is under intense criticism at home following his recent allegations against Nigeria, which he claimed is conspiring to destabilize his country.
In a Christmas Day address, Tchiani accused Nigeria of hosting French soldiers near Lake Chad and establishing training camps for terrorists in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
He alleged these activities were orchestrated to undermine Niger.
The Nigerian government has strongly rejected these claims. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, are among officials who have dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The remarks have sparked backlash from Nigerien citizens on social media, with many dismissing Tchiani’s claims as unfounded. Critics argue the president is using such accusations to divert attention from his administration’s failures since overthrowing Mohamed Bazoum in a palace coup 17 months ago.
One commentator accused the regime of instructing its loyalists to propagate false narratives of a French-led invasion in collaboration with neighboring countries like Nigeria.
Maidalili Namu, a notable critic, voiced his frustrations during an appearance on the Muduba Mugani podcast, accusing the Tchiani government of failing to fulfill its promises of stabilizing Niger. “You have been in power for 17 months, confined to the villa and fed with false information that clouds your judgment,” Namu said in a video shared by PR Nigeria.
He further criticized the regime for fostering tensions with neighboring countries and failing to address Niger’s pressing issues, including economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment. “Nigeriens are fed up with your repetitive statements that yield no progress,” he added.
Another commentator, Hamid Ahmadu, pointed out inconsistencies in Tchiani’s claims, questioning why he had not acted against alleged terrorist hubs within the region if he had accurate intelligence about their locations.
Reports have also surfaced alleging that the Nigerien military has been spreading misinformation to garner public support for the junta. Defence expert Zagazola, reporting from Nigeria’s North East, debunked claims of a French military base in Borno State, describing them as “unfounded.”
“There is no credible evidence of foreign military forces in the regions mentioned by Tchiani,” Zagazola said, noting that the areas in question are primarily occupied by terrorist groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu further dismissed the allegations, stating: “Nigeria has never allowed foreign troops within its borders, even during colonial times. Why would we change our stance now?”
Ribadu urged Niger to focus on combating terrorism collectively rather than inciting unnecessary tensions. “Our shared enemy is terrorism, not each other. We must work together to secure our communities and resist external interference,” he said.
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