How are Boko Haram getting sophisticated weapons – Northern group wants answers to Gen Tichani’s allegations
How are Boko Haram getting sophisticated weapons – Northern group wants answers to Gen Tichani’s allegations
The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has sharply criticised the Federal Government over its handling of allegations by Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tichani, accusing Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise Niger.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dr. Ladan Salihu, the group’s spokesperson, condemned the government for its lack of transparency on critical security concerns, particularly the alarming flow of advanced weaponry to terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP.
“Who is enabling these supply chains?” the LND queried, calling for accountability and action.
“For nearly 20 years, insurgents have outgunned national forces. Why haven’t these networks been dismantled?”
The statement also pointed to France’s controversial role in Africa, echoing Tichani’s claims of foreign interference.
“France’s history of leveraging instability for resource exploitation is well-known,” it said.
“Dismissing these allegations without context risks ignoring the root causes of the Sahel’s security crisis.”
The LND further criticised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, arguing that his support for sanctions and potential military action in Niger has deepened divisions within the bloc.
“Sanctions have worsened hardships for ordinary Nigeriens,” Salihu noted, “while calls for intervention, championed by France, contradict claims of peacebuilding.”
The group urged the Federal Government to reassess its approach, prioritising regional unity and decisive action against the forces sustaining terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
