The Senate has tasked its Committees on Intelligence and National Security and Foreign Affairs with investigating claims made by Niger Republic’s Head of State, Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of conspiring with France to destabilize his country.
The resolution was passed following a motion sponsored by Senator Shehu Umar Buba (Bauchi South) during plenary.
Tchiani alleged that a militia group, known as Lakurawa, was being formed in Northwest Nigeria to threaten Niger, with a base reportedly established in a forest near Gaba, Sokoto State. He further accused Nigeria of hosting foreign military bases aimed at targeting Niger’s oil infrastructure, with operations extending into Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
Expressing deep concern, Buba dismissed these allegations as baseless and harmful to Nigeria’s sovereignty and international reputation. He emphasized that despite diplomatic tensions following Niger’s July 26, 2023 coup—which prompted ECOWAS, under Nigeria’s leadership, to push for a return to constitutional rule—relations between the two nations had recently shown signs of improvement.
Buba noted that Tchiani’s accusations, made on December 26, 2024, were a setback to these diplomatic efforts, wrongly implicating key Nigerian officials such as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and former National Intelligence Agency Director-General Ahmed Rufai, both of whom had been instrumental in promoting regional peace and stability.
The Senate criticized Tchiani for bypassing diplomatic channels and making public claims that could damage Nigeria’s international standing. Lawmakers reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Constitution grants the National Assembly oversight over international treaties and agreements, stressing that no approvals had been given for foreign military bases or militia operations on Nigerian soil.
Consequently, the Senate mandated its committees to conduct a thorough investigation, including a fact-finding mission to Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, to verify the allegations. Additionally, it called for diplomatic and security measures to strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations and promote regional stability.
