Security Experts and Diplomats Give Reason Why Nigeria Should Tighten Up its Northern Borders and Others

Security experts and diplomats stated that Nigeria should tighten up its northern borders because of potential security threats arising from the Nigeria and Niger face-off. The report says that in the light of the escalating tensions between Nigeria and Niger, retired army generals, former diplomats, and security experts have urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the fortification of Nigeria's northern borders. This call to action comes as the crisis between Nigeria and Niger deepens, with concerns about potential security threats to Nigeria, particularly in its northern regions.

The current crisis was exacerbated by accusations from Niger's military regime, led by Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani. In a recent interview, Tchiani alleged that France was negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilize Niger. He claimed that France had made a substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in Nigeria and accused Nigeria of sponsoring terrorist attacks along its borders to undermine Niger's new leadership. These accusations have strained relations between the two countries and raised concerns about regional stability.

Tchiani's allegations were met with a strong rebuttal from Nigeria. The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, insisted that there were no foreign military bases in Nigeria. He emphasized that Nigeria would maintain its diplomatic ties with France and other major international players, including Russia, the US, the United Kingdom, and China. Ribadu's response aimed to reassure both domestic and international audiences of Nigeria's commitment to peace and stability.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also weighed in on the matter, dismissing the Nigerien military junta's claims that Nigeria and other countries were sponsoring destabilization efforts in Niger. ECOWAS insisted that these allegations were unfounded and reiterated its commitment to regional stability and cooperation.

Retired General Bashir Adewinbi advised the Nigerian Federal Government to activate a security contingency plan to protect border communities from any fallout arising from the crisis. He warned that the instability in Niger could have far-reaching security implications for Nigeria, especially in the northern region. Adewinbi emphasized the need for a strict foreign policy and the importance of securing Nigeria's borders to prevent terrorist activities and other threats from infiltrating the country.

Adewinbi suggested that Nigeria might need to consider perimeter fencing around its borders to monitor and control cross-border movements effectively. He highlighted the porosity of Nigeria's borders as a significant security risk, noting that some neighboring countries do not always act in Nigeria's best interest.

Former Commander of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General John Sura (retd.), expressed concern over Tchiani's statements, predicting that they could significantly strain the relationship between Nigeria and Niger. He urged the Nigerian government to analyze the allegations carefully and reinforce the country's borders to protect against potential external threats. Sura warned that Tchiani's statement might be an attempt to discredit Nigeria and lay the groundwork for possible aggression. He advised deploying forces and drones along the borders as a precaution.

Former army chief and ex-chairman of Transparency International Nigeria, General Ishola Williams (retd.), criticized Tchiani's statement, suggesting it was a diversionary tactic to deflect attention from Niger's internal crises. Williams argued that the Nigerien leader's actions resembled propaganda stunts often used by leaders under pressure.

Retired career diplomat Sola Abolurin described Niger's allegations as an attempt to make the Tinubu government unpopular in northern Nigeria. He noted that the diplomatic fallout from the crisis could be compounded by Nigeria's relationship with France. Abolurin pointed out that the Lukarawa terror group, based in Mali, had been causing havoc in northern Nigeria and that Niger should be held accountable for allowing the group to pass through its territory.

Former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon and delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Rasheed Akinkuolie, dismissed the accusations against Nigeria, stating that Niger did not need external help to destabilize itself due to its long history of military coups. Akinkuolie suggested that Tchiani's speech in Hausa was an attempt to stir sentiments in Nigeria, which has a large Hausa population.

Retired Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, emphasized the importance of handling the issue carefully to avoid a rift between Nigeria and Niger. He highlighted the cultural and demographic connections between the two countries and stressed the need for cautious diplomacy.

Residents of border communities in Sokoto State, Nigeria, have also dismissed allegations of the presence of the French Army within the border area. District Head of Balle in Gudu LGA, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu, denied the existence of a foreign military camp in his territory. He described the Niger Republic military leader's allegation as baseless and stressed that his subjects had not reported any such presence.

Other community leaders and residents, including Malam Abdurahman Shehu and Malam Kabiru Muhammad, corroborated Aliyu's statements, asserting that no foreign military camps existed in their areas. They acknowledged occasional bandit activities but credited the Nigerian Army with effectively countering these threats.