Tinubu’s envoy restricted to Hamani International Airport, Niamey by Niger coupists
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
There are strong reports indicating that the three man envoy sent by the Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to meet the coupists in Niger Republic has been restricted to Dori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
The three man envoy led by former Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar also include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Omar Touray.
The envoy left Abuja, the Nigerian capital city on Thursday August 4, 2023.
According to reports, the delegates have been restricted to the airport, unable to meet the coup leader, Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, and the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, who is still under the detention of the coupists.
Analysts see this latest development as a blow on ECOWAS, positing that from all indications, the coupists in Niger Republic seem to have resolved to align with the military regimes in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
It appears the coup has come to stay, despite stiff opposition by ECOWAS and other foreign nations.