- Ghanaian driver shot and truck burned by terrorists while transporting food supplies from Niger to Ghana via Burkina Faso.
- ECOWAS denies claims of foreign-sponsored attacks, emphasizes commitment to regional rules, peace, and prosperity; no plan to invade Niger
Despite the difficult security situation in the area, a Ghanaian driver was shot and injured, and his truck was burned by suspected terrorists while attempting to bring food supplies from Niger Republic.
The driver was one of only a few who chose to transport critical foodstuffs to Ghana via Burkina Faso.
Niger’s borders were closed as a result of the military coup, raising tensions with the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
According to Africanews, the drivers attempted to continue beyond the Burkina Faso border alone after failing to obtain security escorts.
Terrorists attacked the convoy, destroying approximately four vehicles.
Massahoudu Dambala, the owner of Damabala Enterprise, described the terrifying incident to Joy News.
Damabala Enterprise transports food from Niger to Ghana with approximately 35 trucks.
He revealed that a conflict erupted when the drivers disobeyed the terrorists’ orders to stop.
He said;
When the expected escorts failed to show up, one of the drivers made the decision to proceed. Following their accomplishment, our drivers made the trip as well. They left, and the jihadists appeared. The drivers made every effort to stop the convoy, but it continued. Tragically, some went home, and some left their trucks behind.
Our leading vehicle was targeted; they burned it along with about 450 bags of beans it was carrying, along with three or four other trucks.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has debunked the claims that the regional bloc was being sponsored by foreign powers to attack Niger Republic.
Omar Alieu Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, disclosed this on Friday while addressing a press conference in Abuja.
He said;
Let me reiterate that fifth columnists have unfortunately been misrepresenting our decisions and actions, deriding regional authorities as being tele-guided by foreign powers with nefarious intentions.
Let me remind everyone that ECOWAS is a community of rules and regulations, norms, and values. These principles, which have been accumulated over the 48 years of its existence, and they underpin its actions.
We are, therefore, not under the dictates of any extra-regional power or interests. Our interest is rather the protection of the rights of our people with the objective of building a rules-based community and fostering peace and prosperity for all in our region.
He also said the sub-regional body had not declared war on the people of Niger Republic and that there was no plan to invade the country.