More bandits will enter Nigeria if Niger is attacked – Islamic scholar
More bandits will enter Nigeria if Niger is attacked – Islamic scholar
In a recent interview, National Missioner, Abdurrahman Ahmad, expressed concerns about the potential consequences if Niger is attacked. Ahmad, who led a delegation of Islamic scholars from Nigeria to meet with the Niger junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, emphasized the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger.
The Economic of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, had threatened to remove the junta by military force if diplomatic options failed. As part of the diplomatic options, Tinubu had raised a team of eminent Nigerians, led by a former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, to meet and negotiate with the coup leaders in Niamey, but the coup leaders failed to meet with them even after they had arrived the country.
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In an interview granted a television station last week, Ahmad spoke on his team’s trip to Niger and meeting with the junta leader and the findings.
According to him, the Niger coup leaders refused to meet the Abdulsalami team because they felt short-changed after Niger electricity was disconnected by Nigeria without listening to them. “He (Tchiani) said it was under the heat of the anger that they reacted the way they did and asked for forgiveness repeatedly”, Ahmad said.
He also warned that it is not in the best interest of Nigeria at this point in time to fight Niger because it is like declaring war on ourselves.
The Missioner added: “It will be an opportunity to strengthen insurgency, for bandits to have free reign and intensify their cross border attacks”. Excerpts of interview:
Some people believe that this should be a job for diplomats. Do you agree?
It is a very serious matter and Nigeria, in particular, cannot afford any war at this point in time. We are already fighting so many wars that include socio-economic and political. We cannot add direct military war to that. As religious leaders, we are closer to the people. Every day, we get calls of people who ask for financial assistance and can barely survive. We are not in a conventional war and this is happening, what will now happen if we get ourselves drafted into a war that may, at the end of the day, be a proxy war? So, we thought that beyond the pulpit, we should take up the challenge and we met the President to ask him for relief to intervene.
What were the issues at stake that informed the decision of clerics to undertake this intervention?
Nigeria has perhaps the longest border with Niger Republic. About seven northern states share border with Niger Republic. These are the same people who speak the same language, share the same culture and they have historical and cultural ties that date back to 100 years. It is not in the best interest of Nigeria at this point in time to fight Niger because it is like declaring war on ourselves. That is number one.
Two, northern borders are very porous and it is sometimes very difficult to patrol and monitor. It will be an opportunity to strengthen insurgency, for bandits to have free reign and intensify their cross border attacks.