Today's Headlines: Niger Coup: US supports ECOWAS, vows to hold junta accountable for Bazoum’s safety, Thousands Of Coup Supporters Gather Near French Base In Niger
Niger Coup: US supports ECOWAS, vows to hold junta accountable for Bazoum’s safety.
Photo credit: Premium Times
The United States would hold the junta that took power in Niger Republic accountable for the safety of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and detained members of the government.
“The United States joins the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in calling for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The United States recently paused certain foreign assistance programmes for Niger after the military junta overthrew the democratically elected president.
West Africa’s regional bloc on Thursday ordered the activation of a standby force for possible use against the junta that took power in Niger in July.
It said it wanted a peaceful restoration of democracy but all options, including force, were on the table.
According to Mr Blinken, the United States appreciates the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Thousands Of Coup Supporters Gather Near French Base In Niger.
Photo credit: Channel
Thousands of supporters of Niger’s coup leaders gathered on Friday near a French military base on the outskirts of the capital Niamey, AFP reporters saw.
Protesters shouted “down with France, down with ECOWAS”, a reference to the West African bloc which on Thursday approved deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger.
Many brandished Russian and Niger flags and yelled their support for the country’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani.
“We are going to make the French leave! ECOWAS isn’t independent, it’s being manipulated by France, there’s outside influence,” said one demonstrator, Aziz Rabeh Ali, a member of a students’ union.
Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was toppled on July 26 by members of his guard.
The move has been condemned by fellow countries in West Africa, the United Nations and Western countries, including France, the former colonial power and a close ally of Bazoum.
A hostile rally outside the French embassy on July 30 prompted France to organise voluntary evacuations of its citizens.
Nigerian soldiers kill 38 terrorists, apprehend 242 suspects – DHQ.
Photo credit: Premium Times
The Defence Headquarters says Nigerian troops have, in the last week, killed 38 terrorists, apprehended 242 others and rescued 89 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.
The Director of Defence Media tions, Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Mr Buba, a brigadier general, said the apprehended suspects comprised 175 gunmen/criminals, 20 kidnappers, 30 collaborators and 17 pipeline vandals.
He said the troops denied the oil theft saboteurs N607 million being the value of seizures as well as recovery of 38 assorted weapons and 186 ammunition.
Giving the breakdown, Mr Buba said the troops recovered 14 AK 47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one PKT, three AK47 rifles loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62mm special, one SMG, 10 dane guns and five locally-fabricated pistols.
We Are Not Working With Dokubo’s Private Soldiers—Army
Photos Credits: Daily Post
The Nigerian Army has distanced itself from the security outfit assembled by former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.
The Army said it was not in collaboration with Dokubo’s private military company.
Recently, Dokubo had a private military company that was engaged by the government to work alongside the military in some states.
However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the veracity of Dokubo’s claim could only be ascertained by the relevant agency statutorily mandated to license such outfits.
In a statement, Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army had never conducted any operation with Dokubo’s private company
Photo credit: Google
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