DHQ Faults Trending Video in Alleged Plot to Set Up Foreign Military Base in N’West

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, faulted trending video of joint training of military personnel drawn from French, Nigeria and other West African armed forces.

The Video footage went viral shortly after Niger military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, alleged that Nigeria was colluding with France to destabilise his country.

He further alleged that France has also concluded arrangement with Nigerian authority to establish military base in Northern Nigeria to enable French troops launch its proxy onslaught against Republic of Niger.

Responding to the viral video footage, the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said, “This is an old video.”

According to him, the top Nigerian military officer who spoke in the short video clip, Brigadier General Saad, was retired in 2015.

In a telephone chat with THISDAY, Buba observed that mischief makers, and enemies of the Nigerian state were now using the video for misinformation.

Further dissociating the viral video from the alleged foreign military base involving Nigeria and France, he explained the mission of Nigerian military personnel in the video.

“The troops are just fresh from Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre, where they were given the rudiments, basis, tactics and procedures for peace keeping operations and peace enforcement.

“Additionally, all Nigerian troops now pass through all the training centres that we have, which were set up to train troops on counter terrorism.”

His counterpart from France military, who spoke in French in the viral video revealed that Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and other military officers drawn from other West African nations were involved in the peace keeping, peace enforcement and counter terrorism training.

Earlier, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had said Nigeria would not sever her diplomatic ties with France over Republic of Niger’s internal squabble with its erstwhile colonial master.

Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ribadu said the allegation was not only baseless but totally unfounded.

He averred that Nigeria’s relationship with France was based on economic relations, not military collaboration.

He noted that while Niger’s leadership might have issues with France, it is unreasonable to expect Nigeria to sever ties with France over her internal disputes.

“General Tchiani’s statement was both surprising and disturbing. The allegations are baseless and entirely unfounded. Nigeria has no intention of sabotaging or destabilizing Niger.

“We have always maintained peaceful relations with our neighbors, including Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Chad. Why would we suddenly have a reason to be in conflict with Niger? It simply doesn’t make sense,” he said.