Nigeria denies involvement in Niger coup attempt, calls allegations false and misleading

On Thursday, September 2, 2026, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, denied claims that the government backed the recent failed coup attempt in neighbouring Niger, calling the allegations false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. He said Nigeria remains committed to constitutional order and democratic governance across West Africa and would never support any unconstitutional change of government.

The minister referenced a Nigerian government statement issued on August 29, which expressed deep concern over the coup attempt and urged a return to constitutional rule. According to Premium Times, mutinous soldiers abandoned their frontline positions between August 28 and 29, sought to seize power from Niger’s junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani, besieged Air Base 101 and Diori Hamani International Airport, and attempted to infiltrate the fortified perimeter of the presidential palace. The putsch was thwarted by Russian-backed Africa Corps and elite presidential forces, which reportedly killed and arrested several of the rebel soldiers.

Enikanolaiye urged Nigerians at home and abroad to disregard videos and narratives online portraying Nigeria as supporting the coup, warning such content aims to sow discord. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union’s zero‑tolerance policy for unconstitutional changes of government, pledging continued cooperation with regional and international bodies to defend democracy, uphold the rule of law and promote peace and stability in the Sahel and Africa.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/907417-nigeria-denies-backing-failed-niger-coup.html