Niger leader, Tchiani claims coup saved Nigeria from imminent disaster

General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the leader of the Niger junta that took over the Nigerien government, has claimed that the military takeover in his country saved Nigeria from an imminent disaster.

Islamic scholars who met President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday met Tchiani on Saturday, August 12 to have talks in Niamey.

According to Sheik Bala Lau, Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Tchiani claimed the coup was well intended, adding that “they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only the Niger Republic but also Nigeria”.

It is unclear what Tchiani meant as the statement did not go into detail.

But his claim came after the Nigerian Defence Headquarters said some persons were instigating the military to seize power in Nigeria.

General Tchiani said it was painful to the coup leaders that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Heads of State, and Government leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing an ultimatum to them to quit office.

Speaking when he received Nigeria’s intervention team, comprising prominent Islamic scholars in the country in Niamey, the coup leader and the Nigerian team agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in resolving the political crisis in his country.