NIGERIA’s Embassy has debunked social media reports that its embassy building in Niger’s capital, Niamey had been attacked and burnt down amid the ongoing coup crisis in the region.
This comes after videos emerged on social media purportedly showing the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey on fire allegedly attacked by a mob angry at Nigerian government position on the coup.
But according to a press statement sighted by News Point Nigeria Saturday, signed by Dr Liti I. Auwalu, PH.D on behalf of the Ambassador, the protesters tried to gain access to the Embassy on 30th July, 2023, the Nigerien Military and Police authorities promptly curtailed the situation.
“At the moment, the Embassy is well guarded by the Nigerien Military and other authorities. We reiterate that the videos are fake and as such the general public is enjoined to disregard such videos”, the statement read in part.
President Bola Tinubu is the current chairman of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS which has threatened to use force against the military junta in Niger in order to reverse last month’s coup.
This has angered the coup leaders and their supporters in the country. Niger and Nigeria have long historical, cultural and religious as well as economic ties.
The two countries share a border stretching more than 1000 kilometres. But the coup appears to be testing these age-long ties.
The junta has recalled Niger’s ambassadors to Nigeria, Togo, France and the US in response to the countries’ condemnation of the coup and the pressure they have been mounting for restoration of constitutional order.
There has been tension in West Africa in the wake of the coup on July 26, when soldiers from Niger’s Presidential Guard toppled and detained elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
