Following threats by the military junta in the Republic of Niger to kill the dethroned civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African countries have vowed to punish the junta if the detained leader or any of his family is harmed.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, made this known while speaking on Channels Television on Friday in Abuja.
The coupists’ threat to kill Bazoum followed the decision of the ECOWAS countries to deploy military action if diplomatic approach to resolving the crisis in Niger fails.
The embattled President Bazoum, his family and members of his cabinet have been in detention since the government was toppled a fortnight ago without allowing them access to food and medical care.
He said they were living under appalling conditions; hence, the reason for the regional bloc’s decision to prepare a standby force.
He said the West African region bloc could not fold its arms and depend on the goodwill of the coupists after interrupting democratic order.
Musah said, “We are going there, if need be, to rescue President Bazoum, who is living in very terrible conditions today. He is being denied medical attention. He is being denied access to his usual food.
“His son, who is also in detention, has lost so many kilos already. They are being held in these inhumane conditions and we cannot just sit back idle and depend on the goodwill of these people who are disrupting the democratic process in the country.
“Yesterday’s (Thursday) communique also made it very clear that this junta will pay dearly if anything happens to the safety, security, or physical integrity of Bazoum, his family, or members of his government. That was clearly done.
“We are not going to hold back because they are holding the president hostage. If they dare, if they harm in any way, then they are going to pay very dearly for that. So, this is a tactic.”
