Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has accused France of orchestrating a plot to establish a terrorist base in Nigeria through the Wagner Group, a controversial private military company.
He made this claim during an interview with Niger’s television station on Wednesday, alleging that the Nigerian government is aware of the Wagner Group’s activities and has ignored advice to address the threat.
“Our intelligence has long indicated France’s intention to utilize Wagner as a tool for spreading terrorism in Nigeria,” Tiani stated.
“We provided detailed recommendations to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu adiminstration, but they have chosen to ignore them,” he added.
These remarks come amid rising tensions between Niger and France following the recent military takeover in Niger, which ousted the democratically elected government.
France, a former colonial power in the region, has repeatedly denied any involvement in destabilizing activities, while relations between the two nations remain strained.
Tiani’s allegations have sparked further debate about foreign influence and security in West Africa. The Wagner Group already operates in several African nations, including Mali and the Central African Republic.
