President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent two delegations, Abdulsalami and Sultan to warn Niger junta.

Yesterday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intensified its pressure on the Niger Republic junta to restore democracy.

Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar on behalf of the sub-region met with junta leader in Niamey, after taking briefing from President Tinubu in Abuja.

The second delegation was led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with a mission to persuade leaders of Libya and Algeria – Niger’s Northern neighbours – to lend their support to the pressure on the military usurpers.

The sub-regions Chiefs of Defence Staff, after concluding their meeting in Abuja, have returned to their respective countries to brief their Commanders in Chief on their decisions and readiness for a military offensive, if necessary.

United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden, also yesterday gave his total support to ECOWAS decision that the junta should step down.

Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale explained in a statement that the President acted in line with the resolution reached at the end of last weekend’s extraordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja.

Niger has been embroiled in crisis since July 26 when a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The coup drew condemnations from the international community, including ECOWAS which gave the junta till August 6 to reinstate Bazoum. The sub-regionional body went on to announce a number of sanctions against Niger with Nigeria taking the lead by cutting off power supply to the troubled nation.

Niger, with a population of over 27 million, shares border with Nigeria in the North.

Yesterday, Defence Headquarters clarified that it had yet to receive an order to deploy troops against the Niger junta headed by 62-year-old Gen Tchiani.

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