The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a warning against any military action in the Republic of Niger, emphasizing that it could lead to mass killings and engulf the West African sub-region in conflict.

President Bola Tinubu had notified the National Assembly about the proposed Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) military action against the Nigerien military junta that recently seized power.

However, the Northern Senators Forum rejected the option of war and advocated for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic governance in Niger.

The CNG highlighted a complex international power game at play in Niger, involving Western powers, Russia, China, Mali, and Burkina Faso, making any military intervention fraught with resistance and potential for escalation.

The group urged the Nigerian government to prioritize political and diplomatic approaches to pressure the junta to restore civilian rule, given Nigeria’s current domestic fragility and economic challenges.