Niger Coup: Tinubu writes the Senate, seeking backing for military intervention in Niger

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate requesting backing for military action against the Niger Republic's military junta.

He also requested the legislature's approval to cut off the country's electrical supply.

According to the PUNCH, Niger's democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was deposed by his bodyguards.

Tinubu, Nigeria's president and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, met with other ECOWAS leaders on Sunday to explore methods to restore democracy in Niger.

The leaders of the West African regional bloc convened to consider sanctioning the military soldiers who deposed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.

"Political situation in Niger," the President said in his letter. Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic, which culminated in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS convened a meeting and issued a communique in which it condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government in order to restore peace."

"Military buildup and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant," the president said.

“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.

“Cutting off Electricity supply to the Niger Republic, mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.”

“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports,” he added.

Tinubu also told the Senate that the country was embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.