The Defence Headquarters has convened a Joint Border Security Meeting after Nigerian and Nigerien soldiers clashed on Saturday, November 29, in Mazanya, a border community in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, announced the development on Monday, December 1, saying the meeting was designed to strengthen liaison between both countries security forces and prevent future incidents.
The clash sparked public concern after reports surfaced that Nigerien soldiers had crossed into Nigerian territory without prior authorization, raising fears of a possible terrorist incursion before they were confronted by a combined team of Nigerian security forces including troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, the police, the Department of State Services and the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Major General Onoja explained that the Nigerien soldiers were on what has historically been a routine activity. He said a convoy of four gun trucks and one Toyota Jeep carrying Nigerien officers and troops had entered Mazanya to fetch water, noting that the troops from Niger Republic had always accessed the area for this purpose. According to him, the unusually large size of the convoy caused concern among local vigilante members who misinterpreted the movement as a hostile advance. He said, “This misunderstanding led to the vigilantes opening fire on the Nigerien troops.” He added that following immediate dialogue between Nigerian security authorities and the Nigerien commander on the ground, the situation was deescalated. The visiting troops fetched the water as intended and returned to their side of the border without further incident.
Onoja explained that during the discussions, the Nigerian commander stressed the need for better communication and prior liaison before any future cross border water fetching missions, especially when such missions involve large formations or senior officers. He said the Nigerien commander agreed to the concerns raised and committed to improved communication going forward.
Reaffirming the Nigerian military’s commitment to peaceful and cooperative relations with neighbouring countries, Onoja said Nigeria and Niger share long standing cultural, economic and security ties and will continue to collaborate closely on shared challenges including terrorism, smuggling, illegal migration and other cross border threats. He said the lessons from the incident are being taken seriously and concrete steps are already underway to prevent such misunderstandings in future.
He called on residents of Mazanya and other border communities to remain calm but vigilant. “The situation is fully under control, and both Nigerian and Nigerien authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians living along the border,” he said.
