DHQ Maps Out War Logistics To Oust Niger Republic Junta

In compliance with the directives of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS the Defence Headquarters has commenced the mobilisaiton of war logistics for the possible mobilisation of troops and equipment for a possible confrontation with the junta in Niger Republic, Sunday PUNCH has reported.

That is, however, despite the division within the ECOWAS parliament and the rejection of war by the Nigerian Senate.

The Nigerian military high command, Sunday Punch reported, had directed the service chiefs to compile and submit war logistics such as the number of personnel, equipment, logistics and financial costs to the Chief of Defence Staff on what it would take to oust the Niger Republic junta.

The newspaper reported that a leaked memo indicated that about two battalions would be required to prosecute the war against the junta in Niger Republic.

A battalion is a military unit typically consisting of 300 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain).

But a military source said the total number of troops should be at least “10 times more than that of the enemy.”

Apart from Nigeria, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast, other ECOWAS member states are expected to commit troops to the standby force.

ECOWAS had on Thursday activated its standby force for military action against the junta in Niger Republic.

The decision was taken at an extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government hosted by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The junta led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to reinstate Bazoum, who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover on July 26.

Following the coup, the ECOWAS imposed a battery of sanctions on the francophone country to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president.

But the coup plotters ignored a one-week ultimatum to restore democracy issued by ECOWAS and also refused to meet with a delegation led by former Nigerian military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, last week Thursday.

A source noted that the Defence Headquarters would coordinate the deployment of logistics, troops and equipment for the possible war operation in Niger Republic.

‘’No deployment has been made for now, but the build-up is ongoing. Services are to forward requirements such as the required number of men, equipment as well as funds that would be needed to mobilise troops to Niger. The DHQ will coordinate the deployment of troops for the operation in Niger,” the source stated.

When asked about the total number of troops that would be deployed, another source stated, “Military deployments are shrouded in secrecy, but it depends on how many men would be contributed by all members of ECOWAS. The total force should be at least 10 times more than that of the enemy.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, assured Nigerians that the participation of the country in the military operation and use of war logistics in Niger Republic would not affect the ongoing war against insecurity in the country.

Asked if the ongoing operation against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network, Boko Haram terrorists and bandits would not suffer setbacks with the planned deployment of troops to Niger, Gusau said, “I want to assure you that it will not in any way.”

Source: Sunday Punch
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