₦airaland Forum

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In compliance with the directives of the Economic Community of West African States, the Defence Headquarters has commenced build-up preparations for the possible mobilisation of troops and equipment for a possible confrontation with the junta in Niger Republic, findings by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

However, the ECOWAS Parliament is divided over the use of military might to force the junta, which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, out of power and to reinstate the Nigerien President.

The Nigerian military high command, it was gathered, had directed the service chiefs to compile and submit war requirements such as the number of personnel, equipment, logistics and financial costs to the Chief of Defence Staff.

One of our correspondents gathered on Friday that this was the preliminary stage in the planning process of amassing human and material resources required for the planned military intervention in Niger.

A leaked memo indicated that about two battalions would be required to prosecute the war against the junta in Niger Republic.

A battalion is a military unit typically consisting of 300 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain).

But a military source said the total number of troops should be at least “10 times more than that of the enemy.”

Apart from Nigeria, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast, other ECOWAS member states are expected to commit troops to the standby force.

ECOWAS had on Thursday activated its standby force for military action against the junta in Niger Republic.

The decision was taken at an extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government hosted by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The summit was attended by top diplomats from the United Nations, African Union and the regional bloc.

The junta led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to reinstate Bazoum, who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover on July 26.

Following the coup, the ECOWAS imposed a battery of sanctions on the francophone country to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president.

One of our correspondents gathered on Friday that this was the preliminary stage in the planning process of amassing human and material resources required for the planned military intervention in Niger.

A leaked memo indicated that about two battalions would be required to prosecute the war against the junta in Niger Republic.

A battalion is a military unit typically consisting of 300 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain).

But a military source said the total number of troops should be at least “10 times more than that of the enemy.”

Apart from Nigeria, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast, other ECOWAS member states are expected to commit troops to the standby force.

ECOWAS had on Thursday activated its standby force for military action against the junta in Niger Republic.

The decision was taken at an extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government hosted by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The summit was attended by top diplomats from the United Nations, African Union and the regional bloc.

The junta led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to reinstate Bazoum, who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover on July 26.

Following the coup, the ECOWAS imposed a battery of sanctions on the francophone country to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president.


But the coup plotters ignored a one-week ultimatum to restore democracy issued by ECOWAS and also refused to meet with a delegation led by former Nigerian military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, last week Thursday.

On Monday, the junta similarly denied the acting United States Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, access to the coup leader and Bazoum.

Also, plans by a joint UN/AU/ECOWAS delegation to visit Niamey on Tuesday were aborted after the coup leaders said they were unavailable to meet with the mission.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that more sanctions had been imposed on the individuals and entities relating with the Niger military junta.

The new sanctions imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria will prevent Nigerien banks from carrying out financial transactions with their Nigerian counterparts.

The restriction also applied to the coup plotters and their collaborators.

In reaction to the planned military intervention authorised by the sub-regional body, the Niger military leaders threatened to kill Bazoum should the ECOWAS attempt any military operation to restore democracy in the francophone country.
However, giving an update on the ECOWAS resolution on Friday, reliable military sources said the Nigerian military authorities had started activating the necessary levers to give full expression to the resolutions of the West African leaders.

A source noted that the Defence Headquarters would coordinate the deployment of troops and equipment for the operation.

‘’No deployment has been made for now, but the build-up is ongoing. Services are to forward requirements such as the required number of men, equipment as well as funds that would be needed to mobilise troops to Niger. The DHQ will coordinate the deployment of troops for the operation in Niger,” the source stated.

When asked about the total number of troops that would be deployed, another source stated, “Military deployments are shrouded in secrecy, but it depends on how many men would be contributed by all members of ECOWAS. The total force should be at least 10 times more than that of the enemy.”

However, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, assured Nigerians that the participation of the country in the military operation in Niger would not affect the ongoing war against insecurity in the country.

His reaction followed concerns by security experts that military involvement in Niger might impact the ongoing operations against criminal elements across the country.

Asked if the ongoing operation against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network, Boko Haram terrorists and bandits would not suffer setbacks with the planned deployment of troops to Niger, Gusau said, “I want to assure you that it will not in any way.”
The DHQ spokesman declined to speak on the preparations for the planned military intervention in Niger

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https://punchng.com/niger-dhq-directs-service-chiefs-to-compile-war-items-ecowas-lawmakers-divided/

If ECOWAS fall for this war then I see them as the most stupid organization
The way forward is to talk with the coupist and chart the way forward. Why should African brothers be fighting themselves because Europe want gas from warri Nigeria. Let's be careful before we take action that will consume us.
Who that is close to ebola should tell him not to listen to those Europeans.

Againstallodds:
If ECOWAS fall for this war then I see them as the most stupid organization
The way forward is to talk with the coupist and chart the way forward. Why should African brothers be fighting themselves because Europe want gas from warri Nigeria. Let's be careful before we take action that will consume us.
Who that is close to ebola should tell him not to listen to those Europeans.

Envoys from UN/AU/ECOWAS have been sent but the coupist wouldn't meet them. They wouldn't even discus with Gen. Abdusalm and the Sultan of Sokoto. What else should be done in your opinion?

None of the ECOWAS members has the military might to prosecute any confrontation in Niger, they rely solely on Nigeria as the big brother.

It is however a matter of fact that we don’t have the finance, military hardware and boots to engage in any war at this time.

Gone are the days of ECOMONG. Those were times of oil boom when we had excess to waste.

Which war items did they have? Yeye

You have war items but you can't face IPOB. Video evidence are on the internet. You have war items and Islamic terrorism is flourishing in the north for up to a decade. A country that love deception.

Abifarin16:
Envoys from UN/AU/ECOWAS have been sent but the coupist wouldn't meet them. They wouldn't even discus with Gen. Abdusalm and the Sultan of Sokoto. What else should be done in your opinion?

Nigeria should mind her business. Niger Republic is a sovereign state.

The coup leaders are obviously clueless. They knew they start a crisis they cannot sustain, and still proving stubborn even to the extent of denying a joint UN/AU/ECOWAS delegation to visit Niamey.

I'm so sorry for them to have believe the failed cheerleading group from Nigeria.

Won ma lule pi

Newton2024:
Nigeria should mind her business. Niger Republic is a sovereign state.

They cease to be able to do whatever they want they moment they joined ECOWAS. Now their is a criteria for being a member of AU, UN, and ECOWAS. One that I am very sure of is that you cannot be a member to the above mentioned group and have a military head of state, talk more of a coup. The above agency have responsibilities of maintaining the leadership status of member nations which is what ECOWAS is trying to do. If they will not revert back to a democratic system the whole west and Africa will cut ties with them it's simple. You guys just complicate thing with your emotions strong desire to not want to learn. If you are married to a woman and she wakes up one day and say she want to leave you and be married to your neighbor next do, will she continue to receive the privileges that she used to receive when you were under a marriage agreement?

Abifarin16:
Envoys from UN/AU/ECOWAS have been sent but the coupist wouldn't meet them. They wouldn't even discus with Gen. Abdusalm and the Sultan of Sokoto. What else should be done in your opinion?

If the people of Niger want to have a military ruler so be it but killing ourselves just so that Europe have cheap gas to power their country is a big no no

Againstallodds:
If the people of Niger want to have a military ruler so be it but killing ourselves just so that Europe have cheap gas to power their country is a big no no

Is that what you were told is the reason for the coup?

Abifarin16:
They cease to be able to do whatever they want they moment they joined ECOWAS. Now their is a criteria for being a member of AU, UN, and ECOWAS. One that I am very sure of is that you cannot be a member to the above mentioned group and have a military head of state, talk more of a coup. The above agency have responsibilities of maintaining the leadership status of member nations which is what ECOWAS is trying to do. If they will not revert back to a democratic system the whole west and Africa will cut ties with them it's simple. You guys just complicate thing with your emotions strong desire to not want to learn. If you are married to a woman and she wakes up one day and say she want to leave you and be married to your neighbor next do, will she continue to receive the privileges that she used to receive when you were under a marriage agreement?

One particular question you folks keep evading:
Why is Ecowas not considering military intervention in the first three regions that fell to coups before Niger? What's making this case unique? Nothing about the double standard is making any sense.

BoldBrainz:
One particular question you folks keep evading:
Why is Ecowas not considering military intervention in the first three regions that fell to coups before Niger? What's making this case unique? Nothing about the double standard is making any sense.

Good observation.
You would have to ask the people who were ECOWAS chairman during that period of those said coup. When Buhari was ECOWAS chairman and Gambia went the coup route, Buhari matched the Standby forces there and they reinstated the leader before the standby forces got there.

It is safe to say under Nigeria watch as ECOWAS chair coup don't hold, Tinubu might just be following the antecedent of things.

It is also Safe to say that Nigeria is the only ecowas member state that has the capacity, in terms of finance, personnel and otherwise to maintain the status quo (democracy) in the sub region.

The treaty to establish ECOWAS was signed in Lagos, Nigeria is very deeply rooted in ECOWAS.

A lot of times we just judge things on the basis of emotion and a lot of ignorance.

Abifarin16:
Is that what you were told is the reason for the coup?

ask ebola

Abifarin16:
Good observation.
You would have to ask the people who were ECOWAS chairman during that period of those said coup. When Buhari was ECOWAS chairman and Gambia went the coup route, Buhari's matched the Standby forces there and they reinstated the leader before the standby forces got there.

It is safe to say under Nigeria watch as ECOWAS chair coup don't hold, Tinubu might just be following the antecedent of things.

It is also Safe to safe that Nigeria is the only ecowas member state that has the capacity, in terms of finance, personnel and otherwise to maintain the status quo (democracy) in the sub region.

The treaty to establish ECOWAS was signed in Lagos, Nigeria is very deeply rooted in ECOWAS.

A lot of times we just judge things on the basis of emotion and a lot of ignorance.

Okay, makes for a decent explanation.

However, now that Bola Tinubu is Chairman of Ecowas, don't you think people will feel puckered out that he hasn't spit a word to even address the issue ot the other three existing military governments within the region?

I mean, Ecowas has had about three sittings since Tinubu assumed the lead role to this day, but not once has a word been said about the other Juntas, not even in summary reference. It's all been about Niger republic and that leaves a lot of curious minds wondering why.

With the economic crunch hitting this nation? Mobilising with what resources? Monies to be source from loans or borrowing right? DHQ time to loot is here but the illegitimate president should know that another crisis is looming in Nigeria

BoldBrainz:
Okay, makes for a decent explanation.

However, now that Bola Tinubu is Chairman of Ecowas, don't you think people will feel puckered out that he hasn't spit a word to even address the issue ot the other three existing military governments within the region?

I mean, Ecowas has had about three sittings since Tinubu assumed the lead role to this day, but not once has a word been said about the other Juntas, not even in summary reference. It's all been about Niger republic and that leaves a lot of curious minds wondering why.

You are very right. Let him deal with the coup that happened in relation to the period of his chairmanship, I believe that will give him and ECOWAS confidence to deal with the others that happen before his ascension to the chairmanship role. If other coup held WA countries see Niger go back to Democratic rule they will be shaking in their boots and start to make plans to return to democracy because they know the Nation and the person at the helm of affairs of ECOWAS.

This subject of ECOWAS using military force within a member's land is not even new. A thread I saw earlier says Nigeria used military forces to reinstate a democratic govt in Sierra Leone in 1998. And just 6 years ago, as part of ECOWAS' forces it also did the same in Gambia. If that's what's needed to drive sense into our West African neighbours, so be it.

Newton2024:
Nigeria should mind her business. Niger Republic is a sovereign state.

Yes Niger is a sovereign state, but their are requirements to join, continental and global bodies like ECOWAS, AU AND UN. one is to have a democratic leadership of some sort. If you void the leadership (Democracy) agreement the body you have joined has the power to expel you, place sanction on you and even try to reinstate democracy if need be. That is what is playing out here.

BoldBrainz:
One particular question you folks keep evading:
Why is Ecowas not considering military intervention in the first three regions that fell to coups before Niger? What's making this case unique? Nothing about the double standard is making any sense.

The other coup did not happen under Tinubu and Nigerians ECOWAS chairman tenure. Those who were chairmen then should answer the question. Under Buhari, we matched to Gambia. Now it's a Nigerian in power again. It is only Nigeria that can wield a big scary stick at Coupist and they will listen. The previous chairman have be Guinea Bissau, Ghana And Nigerians itself. So is it Ghana that will tell Mali to return to democracy or is Guinea Bissau the will call Burkina Faso to order?
They don't have the personnel, the finance or the munitions t pull that of.

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