Salisu Usman recalled his childhood memories playing with other kids of his age at his neighborhood on the streets of Maradi. He had his primary and secondary education in Niger Republic. The story of his birth and socialization hangs somewhere in the recesses of Niger ecosystem.
Usman, whose grandparents migrated to the West African country almost a century ago, has an extended family consisting of siblings, cousins, grandparents in the country he now calls his own.
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It was much later in life, after he graduated from secondary school, Usman learnt that his family origins were in Nigeria. Now 32-year-old Salisu has taken a wife from his home state in Jigawa and moved to Niger Republic where he ventures into tailoring and makes a fortune.
“We have been paralyzed by the news of the planned war. If it happens, God forbid, it will split our family ties. We see Niger and Nigeria as an entity. The authorities have a wrong perspective of our sensibility and world view,” Salisu Usman said.
Salisu Usman is not alone in this traumatic journey since a military junta detained Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday, July 26 and toppled the democratically elected government in the country.
Thousands of Nigeriens troop into Nigeria yearly in search of greener pastures. Also many Nigerians have found a haven in Niger.
26-year-old Abdulkadir Umar is a Nigerien born in Nigeria. He said his father migrated to Nigeria some 57 years ago, and had since formed a large family in Kano State.
“There is a terrifying uneasiness in the family following the news of the impending war ECOWAS led by President (Bola) Tinubu is planning to wage against Niger. My father is right now in Niger where he does his business and all the family is in Nigeria. If the war occurs, it may affect our family members, especially those in Niger,” he said.
There has been a growing tension in the country since General Abdourahmane Tchiani declared himself the head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, prompting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to order the chief of the defense staff committee to immediately activate its standby force after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum for the restoration of democratic rule.
The 15-member ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Niger republic including the closure of land and air borders, anda seven-day ultimatum for the coup leaders to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force.
