The Mirage Of A French Military Base In Nigeria

2027 has come so early with a groundswell of gimmicks and political manoeuvres that are being used to overheat the polity, and shape political opinion in favour of those angling to contest for the 2027 elections. From the Samoa agreement fiasco, through to the tax reforms debates, we are now in the middle of a conversation about French invasion.

A certain journalist who is notorious for spreading fake news and ending up presenting as a sick person in court when arraigned, was at his propaganda best, spreading the fake news of a French military presence in Nigeria. He was called out online by a security expert who pointed out to him that the soldiers in the said video were English, and that it was not the first time that the Nigerian military is collaborating with foreign personnel for trainings and similar programmes.

He deleted his post after that. Now the Niger Republic Head of State Abdourahamane Tchiani, President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) has come forward with allegations that the French government has a military base in Nigeria, and is harbouring and supporting the operations of terrorist cells with the active participation of the Nigerian government. Our “sick in court” journalist and his cohorts have latched onto this once more and are milking it on behalf of the 2027 hopefuls.

Who is Abdourahamane Tchiani? He is the presidential guard commander that betrayed President Bazoum and forcefully removed him from power on July 26, 2023. Since his ascension to power, Niger has not witnessed meaningful development to justify his military coup. His supposed romance with Russia has not yielded any dividends as Russia is embroiled in a war with Ukraine, and practically the whole of Europe (or those that matter) and the (United States (US) as foes.

Tchiani has come to the crossroads where he has to come clean with his people. He has zilch on his scorecard, topped with a battle with rebels that want to ease him out. He is lost for words and “lost for action” and does not have anything promising for his people. He is obviously not the hero he posed to be. He also does not have the support of his neighbouring countries. The economic support that is most crucial to his supposed transition to civilian rule. A drowning man they say will clasp onto a straw. Tchiani is drowning and he is looking for straws to latch onto. He is in search of protagonists to his lost cause.

The ECOWAS Commission, and the Nigerian government have debunked his claims. Nigerian Information Minister and the National Security Adviser (NSA) have also done so eloquently. The NSA has challenged him or anyone to provide proof of the claims of a French military base in Nigeria. Tchiani’s claims are quite porous anyway. His claims that the former director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Rufa’i Ahmed, is part of the operations linked to a terrorist group is a big lie to the high heavens. He probably thinks Rufa’i is still in charge.

Meanwhile, Rufa’i left the service in August of 2024. Tchiani is making his claims in December of 2024. Rufa’i is not in charge of the system anymore. Also, Daily Trust did us all a favour of fact-checking the video in circulation, which is being referred to as the evidence of French troops in Nigeria, and found out that the video was recorded in 2013 in Mali.

The Nigerian troops seen were on a training mission under the auspices of the African Union (AU. This video was uploaded on YouTube in 2015. That is almost 10 years after. Nigerians are witnesses to the war on terrorism in their country, including the war waged on the Lukarawa group, who have faced aerial bombardments from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). This is the group Tchiani is claiming that the federal government is using to fight him. Again, Tchiani’s claims do not hold up according to the border communities in Sokoto State who have also debunked Tchiani’s claims. He alleged that there is a forest called ‘Gaba’ where the French have their base in Sokoto. Those communities have denied the existence of any forest called Gaba in their areas.

In fact, the district head of Ilelah said the Nigerien military officials come in from Niger to work with their vigilantes in maintaining peace and order in their communities. This was disclosed during a fact check by Daily Trust. There are no French troops in the border communities between Nigeria and Niger.

The US had asked Nigeria for permission to build a military base long ago and it was refused. The United Kingdom (UK) who are our colonial masters have not built a military base in Nigeria. Nigeria has a better diplomatic relationship with the UK and the US. How will Nigeria entertain a French military base in the country? To incubate and propagate terrorism? The UK would sit and watch such an incursion? Mr. President was hosted officially in France recently and his visit was to woo French investors into the country. There were no defence or security pacts.

President Tinubu and President Macron have a personal relationship that spans over 25 years, back to when President Macron was a junior officer in the French embassy in Lagos. So President Tinubu’s visit to France is what is rattling Tchiani and he is scared of the possibility of discussions about Niger by the two presidents.

Since President Tinubu’s visit to France, the media space has been filled with rumours of French troops on our soil. Aside from the AP video of 2013 in Mali, there is no evidence whatsoever to this outrageous claim.

Tchaini feels Nigeria is working with France to oust him. He doesn’t understand that Nigeria’s priority is to quench the fire of terrorism in its homeland, and not Niger’s. Nigeria’s concern is to woo investors, and not partake in military misadventure.

As soon as the people of Niger realise that Tchiani has actually nothing to offer them, they will rise against him.