Nigeria, Niger’s neighbor, is being suspected and accused of sabotaging a pipeline in Niger.
- Niger accuses Nigeria of sabotaging a pipeline in Niger.
- Niger alleges that Nigeria is providing support to destabilize Niger.
- Nigeria denies the allegations and refutes any connection to the terrorist organization responsible for the attack.
The government of Niger recently levied accusations against Nigeria of acting as a base for destabilizing actions, purportedly with the help of former Nigerien government officials and outside forces.
Niger alleged that Nigeria was involved in the recent pipeline vandalism it suffered.
“Despite efforts to normalize relations, we regret that Nigeria has not given up on serving as a rear base for the destabilization of Niger, with the complicity of some foreign powers and officials of the former regime, to whom it offers refuge,” a local broadcaster quoted Nigerien Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare as saying.
“Recent revelations point to a certain complicity of the Nigerian security apparatus in the pipeline attacks,” the foreign minister added.
However, Nigeria has denied these allegations, noting that it was not involved in the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic, on December 13.
The Nigerian government refuted any connection to the Lakurawa terrorist organization.
Nigeria claimed its security forces were not involved in the event in a statement released by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
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“The Federal Government of Nigeria refutes in very strong terms, allegations by the Nigerien authorities that the Lakurawa terrorist group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigerian security forces, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on the 13th of December 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic,” the statement as seen on the Punch newspaper read.
“The Government of Nigeria is strongly committed to the fight against terrorism and will not condone or support the activities of such groups,” it added.
As per Sputnik, sabotage operations on the Niger-Benin pipeline have increased tensions between Niger and Nigeria.
Niger vs Nigeria
The July 2023 coup in Niger marked the beginning of the rift between Niger and Nigeria.
The West and its then-regional organization, ECOWAS, promptly imposed sanctions on the nation and threatened to invade it in order to reestablish democracy.
As a result, in September of the same year, Niger joined Burkina Faso and Mali to create the organization of Sahel States (AES), a regional organization that was to function independently of ECOWAS.
By February 2024, ECOWAS lifted the sanctions it had imposed on Niger including trade, economic, and several other sanctions. This would do very little to sway Niger back into ECOWAS.
During the same period, Niger reiterated its embargo on flights from Nigeria, stressing that no planes from Nigeria would be permitted to land in Niger.
Prior to that, Nigeria announced the resumption of its ban on flights to and from Niger via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This demonstrated that the action was executed in accordance with the ECOWAS resolution.
