The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces of Nigeria has not received an order for any military intervention in the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Army spokesman Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Thursday, said, “It is no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through unconstitutional means.”
The DHQ added, “In reaction to this illegal takeover of government, the ECOWAS Heads of Government met, and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis.”
The statement explained that the “military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails, to reverse the situation and return” the Niger Republic to “constitutional order.”
“At the moment,” the DHQ stated, “ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS for consideration.”
It stressed that the “Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government.”
(NAN)
