Fear Grips Northerners As Tinubu Seeks Military Action Against Niger

Palpable fear has gripped Nigerians, especially northern residents, following the decision of President Bola Tinubu to seek military action against the junta in Niger Republic.

It was gathered that following the toppling of Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum by his military guard last week, leaders of the West African regional bloc are devising means to restore democracy to that country.

Recall that about 10 senior military officers led by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane had via a National broadcast on July 27, announced a coup in Niger over alleged poor governance and inability of the government to tackle security and other challenges bedevilling their country.

In a swift move to quell another military rule in the region, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, led by its newly elected Chairman, President Bola Tinubu gave the junta seven days ultimatum to restore normalcy or face some stringent sanctions.

The ultimatum was issued last week during an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.According to a communique released after the meeting, the West African leaders agreed on seven political sanctions that would compel the military to bow

Islamic preacher in Kano, Dr Muhammad Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo, in a viral video on Friday, warned Tinubu against leading Nigeria to invade Niger.

Rijiyar Lemo stated that any military incursion would further add to the myriad of socio-economic challenges in the Sahel region, advising ECOWAS to find a peaceful means of resolving the issues.

“Everyone knows that war, especially at this moment, comes with several consequences. We won’t know how and when it ends”, he added.

Similarly, the Northern Senators Forum on Friday cautioned ECOWAS against the use of military force in restoring democracy in Niger Republic.

The senators, under the leadership of Senator Abdul Ahmad Ningi (Bauchi), called for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in that country

The forum, in a statement by its spokesperson, Suleiman A. Kawu Sumaila, cautioned that military force would cause the death of many innocent citizens in Niger Republic and seven Nigerian States that share a border with Niger.

“We take exception to the use of military force until other avenues as mentioned are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who go about their daily business”, the statement added.

Also, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima told said on Saturday that any attempt to embark on military intervention in Niger would have a direct effect on Northerners.

He urged President Tinubu and the Senate to ensure that all diplomatic means have been exhausted before embarking on military action against the Niger junta.

He said, “In the first place, we have not even exhausted all the necessary tools before arriving at the conclusion that we need to go for war.

“The decision is coming in a haste. I don’t think Nigeria is prepared to go to war now. Don’t forget that we have serious internal issues that are already threatening our existence.

“Don’t forget that if war should break out from Niger, the North will be directly affected. I don’t understand why we are taking Panadol for somebody’s headaches. Citizens of Niger are jubilating over the coup and we are here carrying another man’s cross on our head.”

“This means there is more to what we are seeing and hearing. It is my view that the President should be very careful and the Senate should also be careful not to give any approval immediately.

“We don’t have that money to spend and we don’t have such manpower to waste now. It is too early to be talking about invading the country.

“Don’t forget that Russia has an interest in this case. I’m not in support of war for now. Let us be mindful of our own internal challenges so that we don’t invite trouble to ourselves