When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria took the helm of the West African regional bloc of countries last month, he thundered before a roomful of his presidential peers that he would show no tolerance for military coups in an area that had faced five in less than three years.
“We will not allow coup after coup,” he said, drawing a round of applause.
Now, the deadline has passed, Niger’s president — Mohamed Bazoum — is still held hostage in his residence and Mr. Tinubu is facing a backlash in his own country.
Senators, religious leaders and civil society organizations in northern Nigeria oppose a war with a neighbor that they say would further destabilize both countries, whose militaries were already spread thin fighting off Islamist militants.
Nigerian security forces are also combating kidnappers, extortion rings and oil thieves.
Persons:
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “, ”, Mr, Tinubu, — Mohamed Bazoum —
Organizations:
West African, Economic
Locations:
Nigeria, Niger, West African States, Nigerian