We sacked Bazoum to save Niger, Nigeria - Niger Military junta tells Nigerian Muslim clerics +photos - Newstrends
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We sacked Bazoum to save Niger, Nigeria – Niger Military junta tells Nigerian Muslim clerics +photos

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3 years ago

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We sacked Bazoum to save Niger, Nigeria – Niger Military junta tells Nigerian Muslim clerics +photos

The Nigerien military leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has said the military sacked the President Mohamed Bazoum-led government to save both Republic of Niger and Nigeria from possible threat.

Although the nature of the threat was not clarified, but he also apologised for the treatment meted out to former Nigeria’s military leader,  General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led mediation team sent by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), during their visit to Niamey last penultimate week.

These were some of the highlights from the meeting the Nigerien military leaders held with a team of Islamic Ulamas, led by by Sheik Bala Lau, National Chairman Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Niamey at the weekend.

They met with General Tchiani for several hours during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS.

The Muslim clerics had last week met with Nigeria’s President and chair, Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the need for dialogue in resolving the conflict.

On their request, the president agreed that the leaders go ahead and meet the Niger military leaders for a peaceful resolution of the impasse.

Outcomes

In a statement signed Sunday by Lau, the team leader,  he said “the team had earlier told President Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through dialogue.

“He therefore told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.

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“Responding, General Tchiani, who accorded the team warm reception, welcomed their intervention.

“He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

“General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.

“He claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria.

“He also apologised for not according the team sent by President Tinubu led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.

“While tracing the historical ties between the two nations, he said Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.”

 The statement further quoted a member of the intervention team, Chief Missioner  Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdulrahman,  as telling journalists in Niamey that “contrary to reports in some sections of the media, the team was well received by General Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.

“We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter.

“We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail.”

The statement listed members of the team as coming from various Islamic sects across Nigeria.

“Among them were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina-Director Daawah, JIBWIS, Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi- Rep Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi and Dr Khalid Aliya- Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.

“Others included Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara- Leader Khadriya group Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman, Professor Salisu Sheri- Deputy Secretary-General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Professor Mansur Sokoto, and Alhaji Mele Kyari.”

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Corroborating the Lau-led group of mediators, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said: “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”

Nigerian community begs

Meanwhile, the Nigerian community has begged President Tinubu not to be part of any plan by the ECOWAS to move against the Niger.

In a viral video which went viral and also received by Blueprint, an elderly Yoruba business woman resident in Niamey warned that the move to go into war with Niger would affect them as major stakeholders, adding “Niger is our country.”

She said: “I greet all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, and anywhere they are listening or watching me. Dear patriotic Nigerians, and the descendants of Oduduwa, please help me wake Baba Tinubu (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), this is not the time for him to sleep. He should first address our internal challenges before interfering in other countries’ affairs. Nothing concerns him with what is going on in the Niger Republic.

“Nigeria and Niger are brothers, and anytime the duo sever their relationship, there is an impending war. Nigeria is the supplier of electricity to the Niger Republic though it buys it from the latter, and in the last four days, Niger has been in a total blackout.

“Baba Tinubu under your watch, Nigerians are suffering, and you are not bothered, now you have shifted your attention to another country. If you allow the Niger authority to send us packing, be ready to receive us in Nigeria.

“On the seven-day ultimatum, you gave the coupists in Niger, what concerns you? Please, don’t hinder our economy and way of life. Though we are Yoruba and Nigerians, Niger is our home and the country where we do our business. Today, if we visit home (Nigeria), they will refer to us as strangers or visitors. Given this, President Bola Tinubu, do not let the Nigerien government send us packing.

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“In the last four days, we have been in total darkness, and this is strange because we have never experienced a power outage in Niger. We don’t have torch lights and lanterns. President Tinubu, please don’t implicate us because we are suffering because of your directive/action.”

‘Attempted attack on Nigerian embassy’

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Niger, Mohamed Usman, has said the Nigerien protesters tried to attack the country’s embassy in Niamey.

He, however, said the Nigerien military stopped the planned attack.

He said the attempted attack happened Sunday, 30 July; four days after presidential guards toppled the democratically elected government.

He disclosed this in a statement signed by a staff of the embassy, Liti Auwalu, following a video shared on social media of a building being set ablaze which many claimed is the Nigerian embassy.

“At the moment, the Embassy is well guarded by the Nigerien Military and other Security Authorities,” the statement said, reiterating that the videos were fake and should be disregarded.

Tchiani, had, Wednesday, July 26, led a group of military personnel to arrest Bazoum, dissolved the government and assumed leadership of the country.

And in a very swift response, the Tinubu-led ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger, following which it also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coupists to return the country to the path of democracy.

With the Nigerien military leaders ignoring the ultimatum, the ECOWAS at the end of its meeting last Thursday read a riot act and asked the Chief of Defence of each member country to activate and deploy its standby force.

We sacked Bazoum to save Niger, Nigeria – Niger Military junta tells Nigerian Muslim clerics +photos

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Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction

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20 hours ago

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October 30, 2026

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Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction

A Zimbabwean woman who killed her husband and two young children after reportedly struggling with severe financial hardship has been acquitted of three murder charges by the High Court in Bulawayo following psychiatric findings that she was suffering from a mental disorder when the killings occurred.

The woman, identified as 34-year-old Happiness Chimbangu, appeared before Justice Donald Ndirowei over the deaths of her husband, Edwin Chimbangu, 35, their four-year-old son, Promise, and their seven-month-old daughter, Prudence.

However, the court ruled that she could not be held criminally responsible for the killings because of her mental condition at the time of the incident.

According to details presented before the court, the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 30, 2025, at the family’s residence in Cowdray Park, a suburb of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The court heard that Chimbangu had expressed suicidal thoughts the previous day, January 29, when she visited her mother’s residence at about 3pm and asked her to take care of her two children, saying she intended to end her life.

Her mother reportedly counselled her before she returned to her matrimonial home.

Concerned about her condition, her husband later contacted his mother-in-law at about 10pm, asking her to come to their residence because his wife was again displaying suicidal tendencies.

The woman’s mother subsequently arrived with a relative, while two church members, identified as Jethro Sibanda and Shepherd Ndlovu, also joined the family to counsel her.

The group reportedly spent several hours speaking with Chimbangu in an attempt to calm her down.

They eventually left shortly after midnight after believing that she had recovered and was no longer a danger to herself.

However, the situation reportedly took a devastating turn barely 10 minutes after they departed.

The court heard that at about 12.10am on January 30, Chimbangu realised that her husband and children had fallen asleep before picking up a metal digging tool, commonly described as a metal digger, inside the house.

She allegedly attacked her husband, striking him on the head and killing him instantly.

She subsequently attacked their four-year-old son, inflicting fatal injuries to his back, face and head, before turning on the seven-month-old baby girl and striking her on the face and head.

All three victims died in the attack.

The court further heard that at about 2am, Chimbangu went to her uncle and confessed that she had killed her husband and children.

Her uncle, identified as Moyo, reportedly took her to a police station and reported the incident, leading to her arrest.

Police officers who visited the residence recovered the bloodstained metal tool allegedly used in the attack.

Following her arrest, Chimbangu was referred for psychiatric evaluation at Mlondolozi High Security Prison in Bulawayo.

Medical examinations conducted by a doctor identified as Dr Chinova in February 2025, May 22, 2025, and September 30, 2025, reportedly established that she was suffering from a mental disorder.

Further court proceedings established that she had been suffering from schizoaffective disorder when she committed the offences and was mentally incapacitated to the extent that she could not be held criminally responsible for her actions.

Both the prosecution and defence reportedly agreed that she should receive a special verdict under Section 29 of Zimbabwe’s Mental Health Act.

Justice Ndirowei consequently found her not guilty of the three murder charges on account of her mental condition.

However, the ruling did not mean that she was immediately released from custody.

The judge ordered that Chimbangu remain at Mlondolozi for psychiatric treatment and continued management until she is certified mentally fit by a medical doctor.

 

The case has renewed attention on the importance of recognising and responding appropriately to severe mental health crises, particularly when individuals exhibit suicidal tendencies or other warning signs that could place themselves and members of their families at risk.

 

Midnight Horror : Woman Slaughters Husband, Two Children, Escapes Murder Conviction

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21 Dead, 40 Injured as Drone Hits Market in Sudan’s Darfur Region

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3 days ago

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October 27, 2026

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21 Dead, 40 Injured as Drone Hits Market in Sudan’s Darfur Region

21 Dead, 40 Injured as Drone Hits Market in Sudan’s Darfur Region

At least 21 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in a drone strike on a market in Nyala, a city in Sudan’s western Darfur region, as fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues.

The attack occurred at about 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, in a market in northern Nyala, according to witnesses and a medical source at Nyala Hospital. The city serves as the de facto capital of the RSF-controlled areas in western Sudan.

A medic at Nyala Hospital confirmed the death toll and said more than 40 people had been wounded. However, the medic could not determine how many of those killed or injured were RSF fighters and how many were civilians.

A resident said the market was frequented by young men, including members of the paramilitary group. The identities of the victims and the intended target of the strike had not been independently established.

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The Sudanese military has regularly carried out airstrikes on Nyala, where the RSF has established a rival administration. However, responsibility for the latest market strike had not been independently confirmed.

The attack comes amid an intensification of drone warfare in Sudan, with unmanned aircraft increasingly being used in the conflict. Reports citing United Nations figures said drone attacks killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more during the first three weeks of October.

The conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF began in April 2023 and has triggered widespread destruction, mass displacement and severe food shortages. Millions of people have been forced from their homes, while access to healthcare and other essential services has deteriorated in many parts of the country.

The latest strike adds to concerns over the safety of civilians in areas affected by the fighting, particularly markets and other public places where armed personnel and ordinary residents may be present.

Further information about the victims, the intended target and responsibility for the Nyala attack was not immediately available.

21 Dead, 40 Injured as Drone Hits Market in Sudan’s Darfur Region

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Nairobi Mother Says Husband Abandoned Her During Childbirth, Paid Dowry for Another Woman

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2 weeks ago

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October 18, 2026

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‘Nairobi Mother Says Husband Abandoned Her During Childbirth, Paid Dowry for Another Woman
Salome Wambui
‘Nairobi Mother Says Husband Abandoned Her During Childbirth, Paid Dowry for Another Woman

A Kenyan mother has recounted the emotional and financial hardship she allegedly endured after her husband left her struggling to pay hospital bills following childbirth, only for her to later discover signs that he was preparing to marry another woman.

Salome Wambui, a mother of two from Njoro in Nakuru County, Kenya, said she moved to Nairobi in 2024 to build a home with her husband after dating him for about a year. However, she told Kenyan news outlet TUKO.co.ke that their relationship deteriorated during her pregnancy, leaving her increasingly isolated and struggling to meet basic needs.

According to Salome, her husband began spending less time at home after taking up work driving public service vehicles along the Kitengela route. She said he eventually visited only about once a week and declined her suggestion that they relocate closer to his workplace.

The situation became more difficult when Salome was five months pregnant and lost her grandmother, who had raised her following her mother’s death. She said her husband did not attend the burial and later told her he intended to move out.

Having left her job in Nakuru when she relocated to Nairobi, Salome said she had no steady income to support herself as her pregnancy progressed. Her sister became an important source of assistance, helping her with food and other basic needs.

Salome said she began experiencing frequent bleeding when she was pregnant, raising concerns about her health and that of her unborn child. She eventually gave birth about a month before her expected delivery date after doctors induced labour.

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The most distressing experience, according to her account, came when she needed money to pay the hospital admission deposit. She said she contacted her husband, but he claimed he had been arrested in Athi River and did not provide the money she needed.

With the hospital bill still outstanding, Salome said she approached a woman who operated an M-Pesa shop in the building and borrowed money to pay the deposit. She gave birth that night.

Her husband reportedly visited the following day, saw the newborn and left without providing money for the immediate expenses.

Salome said she subsequently had to borrow more money to settle the discharge bill and meet basic needs for herself and the baby. She also discovered that some household belongings, including a television, gas cylinder and cooker, were missing from their home.

According to her account, her husband returned when the baby was about six weeks old and brought back the television. They lived together for approximately another month before he left again, later taking the television away.

As the debts accumulated, Salome said she eventually sold her refrigerator to repay people who had assisted her during her hospital stay. She recalled that her husband questioned her decision to sell the appliance without consulting him, despite the financial difficulties she said she had faced.

Her suspicions about another woman reportedly grew after she noticed that her husband was protective of his phone. Salome said she later saw messages between him and another woman’s mother that appeared to indicate money was being sent following requests.

She contrasted the alleged financial support with what she received during her pregnancy, saying her husband gave her about KSh150 a day and did not buy supplies for the expected baby.

Salome said she sometimes skipped meals to save money for baby clothes, relying on her sister and other people for assistance.

The situation took another turn about a month after her husband left for good. Salome said she came across a photograph he had posted showing him dressed in matching outfits with another woman. She suspected that a dowry ceremony had taken place, although the details of the reported ceremony were not independently established in her account.

She also said she later learnt that her husband had converted to Islam and changed his name.

Salome, who had worked in different jobs in Nakuru before moving to Nairobi, said she had expected marriage to offer stability and an opportunity to raise a family. Instead, she said, she was left to care for her children while depending heavily on her sister’s support.

Despite the experience, Salome said she did not want to resume the relationship, explaining that the future she had hoped to build with her husband had not materialised.

Her account highlights the financial pressure, emotional distress and practical challenges she says she experienced during pregnancy, childbirth and the breakdown of her marriage. She is now focused on raising her children and rebuilding her life.

‘Nairobi Mother Says Husband Abandoned Her During Childbirth, Paid Dowry for Another Woman

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