Residents of border communities in Sokoto state has dismissed the allegations of the presence of French Army within the border area of the country.
Recall that the Head of Military Junta in the Niger Republic in a recent video in circulation accused Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and some leaders of his administration of conniving with the French Army to attack the Niger Republic.
Our correspondent who was in border community of Tangaza and Gudu local government of Sokoto State on a fact finding mission confirmed that the allegations was a mere say.
Speaking with newsmen who visited him in his palace, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu, Traditional ruler of Balle in Gudu local government area of Sokoto state, denied the allegation of foreign military camp in his territory.
Aliyu made the confirmation in an interview with the newsmen on Friday in Balle, a Nigerian border community with Niger Republic.
He described the Niger Republic Military leader allegation as baseless, stressing that his subjects had at no time reported a foreign military camp existing in the area.
According to him, his people engaged on various agricultural and other businesses activities, noting that if there is a presence of such camp as claimed in existing, his men would brief him.
Another community leader, Malam Abdurahman Shehu, said Marake, Kudula and Bikini communities were located at about 3 to 35 kilometres away from Niger Republic Territory and community members have not sighted any military camps.
Usman stressed that Balle and other communities were relating with Nigeriean communities and at no time such military claim of military camp was reported by the residents.
Malam Kabiru Muhammad, a resident of Ruwa-wuri community in Tangaza local government area, acknowledged the presence of Lakurawa bandits at some times, but not a foreign military camp in the area.
“We notice the presence of Lakurawa bandits, at some times they use to trespass through our farms holding guns.
“They were being chased away by Nigerian Army stationed in our areas, but there is no any foreign military camp terrorising our people,” Muhammad.
A commercial motorcyclist in Ruwa-Wuri, who simply identified himself as Ibrahim, said he has been operating his motorcycle business in the town for over five years and has never for once sighted any French Army in the area.
“I have been here for a long time and I do carry passengers to and from Niger Republic on daily basis, I have never for once come across any Army apart from that of this country and the Niger Republic.
“As you see me now, I’m on my way to Niger Republic, if I tell you that I have seen such it means it’s a pure lie, nothing of such in our midst here,” he said.
Also denying the presence of the French Army, the chairman of Ruwa-wuri cattle market, Ibrahim Mutolib, who said the people of the community has been enjoying their relationship with their Nigerien counterparts especially within the market space where they both operate.
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