Residents of border communities in Sokoto State have dismissed recent claims made by the Head of the Military Junta in the Niger Republic, alleging the presence of the French Army in the region.
The Nigerien leader had accused Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and certain members of his administration of collaborating with the French Army to launch attacks against Niger. However, a fact-finding mission to the border communities of Tangaza and Gudu Local Government areas in Sokoto confirmed that the allegations were unfounded.
Alhaji Aminu Aliyu, the traditional ruler of Balle in Gudu Local Government, denied the existence of any foreign military presence. Speaking on Friday, Aliyu emphasized that his subjects had not reported any such camps, noting that the people of Balle were focused on agriculture and business. If such a camp existed, he said, his people would have informed him.
Similarly, Malam Abdurahman Shehu, a community leader from the area, stated that no military camps had been sighted in surrounding communities like Marake, Kudula, and Bikini, which are located 3 to 35 kilometers from the Niger border. Shehu highlighted the long-standing peaceful relations between the Nigerian and Nigerien communities.
Malam Kabiru Muhammad, a resident of Ruwa-Wuri in Tangaza, acknowledged the occasional presence of Lakurawa bandits but reiterated that there was no foreign military presence. Muhammad explained that the Nigerian Army had been effectively dealing with the bandits, ensuring peace in the region.
Ibrahim, a commercial motorcyclist in Ruwa-Wuri, also dismissed the claims, stating that he had never seen any foreign military personnel during his years of operation, regularly transporting passengers between Nigeria and Niger.
Ibrahim Mutolib, the chairman of the Ruwa-Wuri cattle market, confirmed that the community maintained good relations with their Nigerien neighbors, especially in trade, further debunking the allegations of foreign military camps.