SENATE INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS OF NIGERIAN INVOLVEMENT IN NIGER'S DESTABILIZATION. (PHOTO).

 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Nigerian Senate has launched an investigation into allegations made by Niger Republic's military leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, accusing the Nigerian government of colluding with France to destabilize Niger's internal security.

The allegations, which the Federal Government has described as "baseless",¹ claim that Nigeria is facilitating the terrorist group Lakurawa, allowing them to establish bases in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states. Additionally, Tchiani alleged that foreign military bases in Nigeria are being used to target Niger's oil pipelines and create security threats.

The Senate's investigation was prompted by a motion brought by Senator Shehu Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. Buba expressed concern over Tchiani's implication of Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, in the alleged conspiracy.

The Senate has mandated its Joint Committee on National Security and Intelligence/Foreign Affairs to investigate the claims and submit a report within four weeks. As part of the probe, committee members will visit the named states to verify whether Lakurawa has any operational bases there.