France President, Macron Extends Support To Nigeria On Fight Against Terrorism

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has pledged to deepen France’s support for Nigeria in addressing the growing security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the northern region.

In a post on 𝕏, shared on Sunday, Macron revealed that he had engaged in a conversation with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, during which he expressed France’s solidarity with Nigeria in its battle against terrorism and other security concerns.

Macron wrote, “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.”

He emphasised France’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nigerian authorities and to offering greater support to affected populations. Macron also called on other international partners to intensify their efforts in supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to step up their engagement. No one can remain a spectator,” the French President stated.

The commitment comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating terrorist activities in the northern regions and other parts of Nigeria, with both the government and international partners focusing on expanding cooperation to ensure the safety and security of citizens

Bandits in the early hours of Saturday launched a deadly attack on worshippers observing the Subh prayer in Kiba Ruwa, a community in the Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to local sources who spoke with Egbe Mekun Parrots, the assailants stormed the mosque at dawn, opening fire on the congregants.

Two people including the imam who was leading the prayer were confirmed dead.

Several worshippers were also abducted during the assault, with the exact number yet to be verified.

Security agencies have reportedly been alerted, while residents remain in a state of fear as search and rescue efforts begin.

In neighbouring Kebbi State, bandits weeks ago attacked the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, where 26 schoolgirls were abducted.

All soldiers previously stationed at the school had been summoned to Abuja for interrogation as part of efforts to determine why the security post was vacated shortly before the attack.

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi, expressed alarm over what he described as the “withdrawal of military personnel” from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before bandits stormed the facility and abducted several students.

The governor said the situation was particularly disturbing because the state had earlier received intelligence warning of a possible attack and had immediately convened a security meeting to address the threat.

“As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.

“The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school.

“The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3am, and by 3:45am, the incident happened.”

Idris also said the state had demanded a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of troops.

“Who authorised the military to withdraw?” How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time? That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order,” the governor said.

The Maga District Head, Muhammad Dantani, also raised serious concerns over the role of the Nigerian military in the recent attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State, where armed bandits killed a staff member and abducted 25 students.

A Nigerian Air Force jet has reportedly crashed near Karabonde, in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, with both pilots surviving the incident.

The crash was first reported by a Niger State-based online digital television network, Lapai TV, which posted the news on its official Facebook account on Saturday evening.

The post read, “Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State,” and was accompanied by a 57-second-long video.

Eyewitnesses who spoke with Punch corroborated the reports, with one villager providing details of the crash in a 48-second-long voice note via WhatsApp and a 59-second-long video.

The witness explained that the pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft before it went down. He further mentioned that the aircraft had likely taken off from the Kainji Air Force Base and that the Air Force was mobilizing to the crash site.

“I think the aircraft took off from the Kainji Air Force Base. We learnt that the Air Force is mobilizing to the crash site,” the witness said.

Lukman Sulaiman, a villager who spoke with Punch, confirmed the incident, stating that the crash occurred around 4:10 PM, not far from the town. “It landed very close to town, but God so good, the pilots ejected safely,” Sulaiman said.

When asked if the pilots were injured, he assured, “Yes, we heard a noisy landing crash. We were scared, but we eventually started trooping back to the scene.”

Two videos spotted by Naija News show the aircraft engulfed in flames at the crash site. The military has not yet issued an official statement regarding the crash at the time of filing this report.

Watch the video below: