President Bola Tinubu has expressed dissatisfaction at the reported arrest of the Niger Republic’s President, Mohamed Bazoum by the state guards, stating that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will not condone any actions that undermine democratically-elected governments in the sub-region.
Aggrieved members of the elite Presidential Guard in Niger have reportedly detained President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday, prompting the army to issue an ‘ultimatum’ to the guards, as reported by a reliable source close to the President.
In response to the situation, ECOWAS has denounced the purported ‘attempted coup’ and is urging the ‘plotters’ to release Bazoum without delay and with no conditions.
President Tinubu, acting in his capacity as the ECOWAS Chairman, expressed concern over the blockade of the presidential palace in Niamey by soldiers, terming it an ‘unpleasant development,’ in an official statement on Wednesday.
‘The army has given them an ultimatum,’ an anonymous source said.
Read also: Niger Coup Concern: President Bazoum Residence Sealed Off
Tinubu’s statement on he other hand said: ‘I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.’
‘I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.’
‘As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.’
In a twitter post, Now ‘X’, the president’s office stated, ‘elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper… (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.’
‘The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,’ the presidency said.
‘The president and his family are well,’ it added.
No information was given regarding the reason that triggered the guards’ anger.
From Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a statement condemning what it described as an ‘attempted coup d’Etat’ against the Nigerien president elected democratically.