•Niger-Nigeria border
Some residents of communities in some states that share border with Niger Republic have expressed fears over the spat between Nigeria and its neigbouring country.
In a Christmas Day interview, Niger’s military leader, Brig Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, accused Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise the junta-led nation, reports The PUNCH.
He claimed that Nigeria had provided a base for French soldiers near Lake Chad, adding that training camps had been established for terrorists in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, all aimed at destabilising Niger.
“Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move,” Tchiani was quoted by AFP as saying.
But the federal government denied the claims, with National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, describing Tchiani’s allegations as “baseless” and “false,” while Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the allegations were unfounded and a “diversionary tactic aimed at covering his (Tchiani) administration’s failures.”
As tensions between both neigbours soar, residents of border towns in both countries, who denied Tchiani’s claims, called for an urgent resolution of the row, expressing fears that it could truncate the peaceful atmosphere they’ve lived in over the years.
Some of the residents in the border towns in Sokoto State appealed to the governments of both nations to resolve their differences and ensure the protection of ordinary citizens.
While reacting to Tchiani’s allegations, the Magaji of Balle in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Muhammad Illiyasu, said the residents of the community had never seen French soldiers or other military in the area.
“I have been the Magaji of this community for over 30 years and I swear by the name of Allah, I haven’t seen the French Army in this place. I have never seen the Nigerien Army here, not to talk of the French’s.
“I want to appeal to the government of the two nations not to involve the masses in their politics. We’ve been living peacefully with our neighbours in the Republic of Nigeria for years without any rancour. We don’t want any problem with them and we don’t intend to have any, so they should please think of what to do and resolve it amicably.”
Muhammad Altine, a citizen of Niger Republic, who sells cattle at the Ruwa-Wuri market in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state, also dismissed the allegations of the French Army within the environment.
Altine said he had been selling cattle in the market for over 20 years, hence he had no reason not to know what was going on within the vicinity.
Hassan Tabani of Tabani Siddi village in Gada LG, another border community between Sokoto and Niger Republic, pointed out the harsh lessons that were learnt by the border communities when Nigeria closed its borders to Niger Republic following the Economic Community of West African States sanctions from 2023 to 2024 after Tchiani toppled Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected leader, in a military coup.
The sanctions include closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from the country; suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between both countries, as well as freezing of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.
According to Tabani, a trans-border trader, socioeconomic activities broke down between both nations, which affected businesses within the region.
“As a family head whose livelihood depends on inter-border trade, I never pray for any altercation between Nigeria and Niger Republic again because of what we passed through during the border closure; business went down and we barely managed to survive,” he said.
He blamed Tchiani over what he termed “unsubstantiated allegation”, and prayed that the issue would be resolved soon.
“Though we learnt lessons on survival strategies during the border sanctions on Niger Republic by ECOWAS, a large percentage of their trade and economy depends on Nigeria.
“Honestly, Tchiani made a reckless and unsubstantiated allegation. I am sure good reasoning will prevail and Nigeria will continue to play its big brother role in Africa.”
Trade between Nigeria and Niger only bounced in March after ECOWAS imposed the measures following the July 26, 2023 military coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum.
President Bola Tinubu directed the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, in Abuja, where it was also agreed that economic sanctions against Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were lifted.
The sanctions, which include closing borders and cutting off electricity supply to Niger, were introduced as part of efforts to have Bazoum reinstated and restore constitutional order to Niger.
The border closure devastated local communities on both sides of the frontier with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of businesses reportedly lost.
The border between both nations is around 1,600km (994 miles) long, with Nigeria supplying Niger with electricity, tobacco and building materials like cement. Agricultural products like dates and cattle flowed in the opposite direction before last year’s sanctions.
Also speaking, Dr Murtala Ahmed Rufai of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto described Tchiani’s allegations as “serious but, unfounded” because Nigeria and Niger Republic had a historical relationship with communities along the borderlines inter-related.
The university lecturer, author of the book ‘I am a Bandit’, said, “I can understand where the allegation is coming from; I believe it’s because of the involvement of our President on the ECOWAS issue.
“All his belief is that the position taken by President Tinubu on ECOWAS issue as it concerned his country was a personal decision of the president and that of ordinary Nigerians. I believe he needs to understand what ECOWAS stands for among its member countries.
“I don’t think Nigeria as a democratic nation will support establishing a terrorist camp, before we start talking of military camp or base.
“It is not of logical reasoning that, the establishment of Lakurawa, which has been in existence for over eight years, before the coming of Tchiani’s military junta, is aimed to destabilise Niger Republic.
“Recent findings uncover that Nigeriens are not happy with him but, due to numerous censorship, they cannot voice out their displeasure against him.”
In Borno State, while several residents of border towns feigned ignorance of the spat between both nations, some fear that the issue could cause disharmony between them and their Nigerien neigbours.
“Before the emergence of Boko Haram, we were very frequent in their markets to purchase livestock, food and others. They did same, they came here and now, these things are gradually returning, therefore, if government from both parts want everlasting peace, they should not introduce policies that will create enmity between us and our brothers,” a resident of Garere, a border community in Borno, Yahaya Kida, told our correspondent.
A resident of Gudumbali, another border town, Mishemi Yahaya, called on the government to avoid polical games that could arouse tension in the border communities.
“For now, there is no tension. Aside from insecurity, we and our neighbours in Kabelewa (a Nigerien village) live peacefully. In the day time go there and they also come here. As a matter of fact, I can tell you that many of our people and theirs too are not even aware of all these verbal exchanges, except for a few of us who follow news on radio.
“We are appealing to the government of both sides to settle whatever differences they may be having, we and these people have lived together for long. Most of our people are there, they too have their people here who must come and go from time to time. Let me tell you, historically, we are brothers and sisters,” he said.
A driver in Dikwa, Muhammad Izge, who specialises in delivery of goods between both countries, said, “Aside from the security threat, there is no other threat for now. We are going about our duties and are not bothered by any disagreement between both countries. We cannot separate from our Niger borders and brothers, they are part of us and we are part of them,” Izge said
In Katsina State, a community leader in Jibia Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tchiani’s comments were politically motivated.
He added that the spat was not unconnected with the stand of Nigeria after the coup that brought in the military dictator to power in Niger.
“As I know, there is no concern in and around the Jibia Local Government Area before the allegations of a foreign military base in Nigeria by the Niger President recently.
“On a scale of 100, I will say 70 per cent of the people in the border towns do not believe what the Niger President said about the French military base in Nigeria, they say the comments are political, hence they care less, but about 30 per cent believe him.
“You must also know that 60 per cent of the population of Magama Jibia are Nigeriens, even though it’s a Nigerian community in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. However most residents are from Niger Republic, which is why even on their market days, every Thursday, people from Niger are the major traders and they have been living peacefully since, even after their President’s allegations.
“We in Jibia Local Government Area, so far, have not noticed strangers to buttress what the Nigerien President said, unless they are hiding elsewhere.”
Mallama Adama, another Jibia resident, said, “Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu stood firm during the power tussle that brought in the military junta in Niger. So, it’s payback time for him. We are here in Jibia but all we see is our military presence and they are all black. We interact freely with them.
“Niger’s President should also know that Nigeria is the giant of Africa and if such will take place, everyone will know and feel it. I will advise Nigerians to forge ahead in developing our land for good.” Adama said.
Also, Amb Gidado Farfaru, Mai Zandam, described the development as a power play between the Presidents of both countries.
“Sincerely, between the people of Jibia, which is situated around the international border, especially in Magama, where I live and Niger Republic, especially Maradi, we have no differences; we only look at this as a problem between President Tinubu and Tchiani. And we only heard about a foreign military base in Nigeria through the social media. We didn’t see any foreign military personnel here in Jibia Local Government Area.
