Niger’s junta said on Thursday that it had thwarted an escape attempt by ousted President Mohamed Bazoum who has been imprisoned by the military
since a July 26 coup despite international calls for his release.
The interim authorities said that Bazoum and his family, with the help of accomplices in the security forces, planned to drive a vehicle to the ouskirts of the capital Niamey and catch a helicopter to neighbouring Nigeria.
“The strong reaction of the defense and security forces made it possible to foil this plan to destabilize our country,” a military spokesman said on national television.
Reuters was not able to confirm the account or reach Bazoum, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Niger’s ousted president Bazoum attempts escape, junta captors claim
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