By Muhammadu Sabiu
The former president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and his son, who are being imprisoned by the leaders of the country’s coup, are reportedly living in abhorrent conditions.
This is according to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah.
Musah’s remarks, which were aired on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, were in response to claims that the Nigerien putschists had threatened to kill Bazoum in the event that the Economic Community of West African States intervened militarily.
He 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’s being denied even 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 communique also made it very clear that this junta will pay dearly if anything happens to the safety, security, or the 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 should harm in any way, then they are going to pay very dearly for that. So, this is a tactic.”