The Economic Community for West African States, ECOWAS has directed its standby troops to immediately proceed into Niger and restore constitutional order in the West African nation.
News About Nigeria reports that the directive was issued after the bloc’s defence leader met in the capital of Ghana Accra.
The directives come against earlier calls by the bloc’s defense chief for dialogue as a mediation tactic in Niger.
According to the defense chiefs, everything needed for a successful military intervention has been put in place and is being refined.
The latest development comes against wanton calls by prominent Nigerians against the use of force to return constitutional order to Niger.
Recall that former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani had warned that attempts by the ECOWAS force to invade Niger would have a ripple effect on the northern Nigerian states sharing a border with Niger.
Also, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi had earlier urged President Bola Tinubu led ECOWAS to explore negotiations as the bloc seeks to return Niger to democratic rule.
Already, General Abdourahamane Tchiani led Niger military junta had set up a 21-man cabinet to run the affairs of the nation after it initially turned down requests from both the African Union, AU and ECOWAS for negotiations.
However, in a recent development, a delegation of Islamic scholars from Nigeria who met with the leader of leader of the military junta in Niger, detailed that the general has decided to hold direct discussions and end the standoff with West African leaders.
