The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has been urged by a group, the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), to comprehensively reconsider its military threat and economic embargo against the Niger Republic.
Kacra stated in a statement released on Friday that it opposes any economic sanctions against the Niger Republic. The statement was signed by the Association’s National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello.
It was argued that the destitute masses of Niger, Nigeria, and her other neighbors would be more negatively impacted by the sanction than the offenders and their proxies would be.
“We are opposed to any military intervention by ECOWAS or European countries because it would increase insecurity in Niger, Nigeria, and other countries by resulting in unnecessary fighting between the intervention troops and the Niger Republic army, as well as civilians who would be duped by the military under the guise of nationalism to join the fight as volunteers,” he said.
He went on to say that the employment of military forces in the Niger Republic will have a direct impact on pastoral occupancy throughout the Sahel region because herders will be unable to freely migrate in search of animal feed and water sources.
“The action would seriously lead to widespread terrorism as well as the proliferation of small and light weapons in the fragile Sub-Saharan African countries,” Bello said.
KACRAN urged West African countries to reconsider their military threat against the Niger Republic and to participate in negotiations to settle the political and military issues.