Nigerian activists protest against Niger coup, call for president's release

By Hassan Isilow

Pro-democracy activists in Nigeria staged a protest on Sunday calling for the unconditional release of Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, who was taken hostage by the military in a coup last month.

The Coalition of Pro-democracy Activists marched through the streets of Katsina city in Nigeria’s northwest condemning the coup and calling for the reinstatement of Bazoum, according to The Daily Post.

Sunday’s protest comes a day after hundreds of Nigerians took to the streets of Kano to demonstrate against possible military intervention in Niger.

The planned deployment of Nigerian troops into neighboring Niger as part of a regional force has created mixed feelings in the continent’s largest economy.

The activists also lauded the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc, for taking a firm decision against the Niger Junta during its 2nd extraordinary summit held Thursday in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

The 15-member states ordered for the activation of its standby force in order to "restore constitutional order" in the coup-hit Niger.

Sunday’s demonstrators also condemned what they described as the arrogance and disrespect exhibited by the coup leaders toward envoys, who recently traveled to the country.

A group of soldiers calling themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country seized power in Niger on July 26 and detained Bazoum.

Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of Niger's presidential guard, declared himself the new leader of the country on July 28.​​​​​​​