Niger Coup: Coalition Stages Protest, Demands Release of President Bazoum 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

A coalition of pro-democracy activists on Sunday staged a peaceful protest in Katsina, denouncing the coup d’etat in Niger Republic, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum from detention. 

The Chairman of the Coalition, Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar-Unguwa, while addressing journalists shortly after the demonstration in the state capital, described the coup d’etat in Niger Republic as unjustifiable.

He condemned and denounced the coup d’etat while warning the junta not to plunge the West African sub-region into a “needless and unwarranted conflict because of their selfish gains”.

He said the junta should reciprocate the peace gesture demonstrated by ECOWAS and President Bola Tinubu by immediately rolling back their intent and opening channels of dialogue for a quick solution to this problem.

He said: “We also demand immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum. We applaud ECOWAS for its firm stance in support of democracy and the need to restore constitutional order in Niger.”

The chairman of the coalition condemned what he described as arrogance and disrespect to the President of Chad, Mohammed Idris Derby; former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad  Abubakar III, displayed by the coupists.