Nigeria Denies Viral Reports Of Attack On His Embassy In Niger

The Nigerian Embassy in Niger Republic has denied a viral report that its embassy, the Chancery Building in Niamey, was torched by protesters.

This came after videos emerged on social media purportedly showing the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey on fire after it was allegedly attacked by a mob angry at Nigerian government position on the coup in the country.

The embassy said in a statement issued on behalf of the Nigerian ambassador to Niger, Mohammed Sani Usman, by Dr. Liti I. Auwalu on Friday August 11, 2023, that the video is fake despite the fact that the protesters tried to gain access to the embassy on July 30, 2023.

“The embassy wishes to inform the general public that even though protesters tried to gain access to the Nigerian Embassy on July 30, 2023, the Nigerien Military and Police authorities promptly curtailed the situation.

“At the moment, the Embassy is well guarded by the Nigerien Military and other security authorities.

“We reiterate that the videos are fake and as such the general public is enjoined to disregard such videos,” the press release read.

Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu is the current clChairman of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened to use force against the military junta in Niger in order to reverse last month’s coup.

This has angered the coup leaders and their supporters in the country. Niger and Nigeria have long historical, cultural and religious as well as economic ties.

The two countries share a border stretching more than 1000 kilometres. But the coup appears to be testing these age-long ties.

The junta has recalled Niger’s ambassadors to Nigeria, Togo, France and the US in response to the countries’ condemnation of the coup and the pressure they have been mounting for restoration of constitutional order.

There has been tension in West Africa in the wake of the coup on July 26, when soldiers from Niger’s Presidential Guard toppled and detained elected President Mohamed Bazoum.