Reasons Niger’s Leader Claims France is Behind Terrorism in Nigeria
General Abdourahamane Tiani, the Head of State of Niger, has once again accused France of supporting terrorist activities in the region. In a recent statement, Tiani claimed that France was orchestrating plans to establish a terrorist operational base in Gaba, a forested area in Nigeria’s Sokoto State. He further alleged that the Nigerian government was complicit in these actions, facilitating France’s destabilization efforts in West Africa.
According to Tiani, France has also been funding Nigerian military operations in Borno State, under the pretense of combating terrorism. He suggested that the true motive behind this support is to destabilize Niger and its neighboring countries. He referenced information obtained from captured militants who allegedly revealed that France was behind a plot to establish a terrorist center in Sokoto, involving a group identified as “Lakurawa.”
Tiani claimed that Niger’s intelligence services had passed on this information to Nigerian authorities, including Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the former Director-General of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), for verification. However, Tiani expressed frustration, alleging that the investigation was mishandled and no further action was taken due to Abubakar’s purported links to the terrorist network.
The Nigerien leader also pointed to France’s role in providing sophisticated weaponry to Boko Haram militants, allegedly enabling them to down military jets. Tiani specifically referred to an October 16 attack, asserting that the terrorists, armed with French-supplied weapons, were able to target a Chadian military aircraft.
Tiani also detailed intelligence suggesting that France, in collaboration with the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), was planning to set up operational hubs in the Nigerian states of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara. Despite initial skepticism, Tiani claimed that one of the arrested terrorists had confirmed the existence of these centers, and that the Nigerian government was aware of them, though no action had been taken.
He also accused Abubakar of being involved in the facilitation of terrorist operations, alleging that he served as an intermediary for the West, helping to negotiate with militants and manage their logistics.
Tiani’s accusations underscore growing tensions between Niger and its former colonial power, France. He concluded by stating that, having lost trust in Nigerian officials, Niger would take matters into its own hands if the terrorist group Lakurawa was apprehended. Additionally, Tiani suggested that France had established a base in Benin to monitor countries opposed to its influence in the region.
