Military intervention in Niger may result to mass killings – CNG

There will be widespread deaths if military action is taken in the Republic of Niger, according to the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).

Infostride News says that on Friday, President Bola Tinubu informed the National Assembly of the intended military action against the junta that just seized control in Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Northern Senators Forum issued a statement on Friday rejecting military action and calling instead for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic administration in that country, in response to the President’s appeal.

However, in a statement released on Saturday by its Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the CNG said that Western powers, on the one hand, Russia and China, on the other hand, and some other African countries, playing behind the scenes, are engaged in a diabolical international power game in Niger.

Noting events in other Sahel countries as part of a global power chess game, it warned that Russia/China, Mali, and Burkina Faso would likely resist and view any military intervention in Niger as an invasion, which may lead to a drawn-out conflict.

The coalition emphasised that popular opinion in Nigeria was strongly against a military intervention by Nigeria to restore civilian government in Niger.

It pointed out that Nigeria, which is currently struggling with its hard economic reality, will be expected to spend billions to conduct the war.

It went on to say, “We join other Nigerians particularly the Northern Senators Forum in rejecting the option of war and calling instead for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in that country.”

The northern faction urged the federal government to refrain from going to war until all diplomatic and economic options for convincing the junta in Niger to hand control back to the elected government had been exhausted.

It also warned President Tinubu that, given Nigeria’s current domestic fragility, a military intervention in Niger must be the absolute last choice in consideration of the country’s national interest.