President Bola Tinubu has written the Nigerian Senate, informing the federal lawmakers of the proposed military action to be carried out in Niger Republic and other sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, against the military officers who recently toppled the country’s elected President, Mohammed Bazoum.
The letter to the Senate was read on the floor of the Upper Chamber by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio
The Daily Crucible reports that soldiers in Niger on July 26 sacked elected President Mohammed Bazoum, forcing the leaders of the West African regional bloc headed by President Tinubu, to condemn the putsch in strong terms.
ECOWAS members state also imposed a number of sanctions against the coup plotters but the junta had remained unmoved.
The letter read: “Political situation in Niger. Following the unfortunate political situation in the Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government.
“In a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
“Cutting off electricity supply to the Niger Republic; mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.
“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger, especially from Lagos and eastern seaports.
“Embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.
“Military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.”
