Mohammed Usman, Nigerian Ambassador to the Niger Republic, has dismissed reports that the military junta prohibited President Bola Tinubu’s jet from flying in its airspace.
Gatekeepers News reports that there were speculations that the military junta in Niger asked the plane conveying Tinubu, who had just returned from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, to leave the country’s airspace.
The report alleged that Tinubu’s plane was “pursued” out of the landlocked country, and was said to have been at risk of being shot down.
The alleged hostility from the junta was said to be linked to the position of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — chaired by Tinubu — on the recent coup in the country.
The Ambassador however countered the claims and described it as fake news.
“It is not true,” he confirmed to The Cable.
Tinubu returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Friday, one week after he attended the 78th UNGA from September 18 to 26.
During one of the sessions, Tinubu voiced concerns about foreign exploitation in Africa and rising insecurity and asked other nations to offer solutions of mutual benefit.
