ECOWAS Has No Business Mobilizing A War Against Niger—Army General

ECOWAS Has No Business Mobilizing A War Against Niger

OpenLife Nigeria reports that retired Major General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna, has said that the Economic Community of West Africa State, ECOWAS has no business mobilizing for war against Niger Republic.

General Haruna, 83, made this remark during an interactive session on Arise TV Monday morning.

General Haruna’s comments came shortly after a Cleric, Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, His Grace, Emmanuel Chukwuma, in strong words, condemned the planned invasion of Niger Republic by ECOWAS over last month’s coup in the country.

According to General Haruna, Niger Republic is a sovereign country, noting that its sovereignty should be respected.
“The constitution which ECOWAS wants to defend was framed by the Independent people of Niger.

“If you recognize the sovereignty of the country, you should also recognize the government the people say they want, ” he advised.

As a remedy, General Haruna said ECOWAS should explore full diplomatic options before thing of going to war.
“Niger are the people to take decision on what government is good for them. The three years they outlined to handover to a civilian government will evolve the government that will be most acceptable to the people, ” he stated.

Born on July 24, 1940 in Maiduguri, Borno State, General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna, a retired officer of the Nigerian Army, was a Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture between 1975 and 1977. He was also the Chairman, Executive Council, of Arewa Consultative Forum from 2009 to 2012.

General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna was among the first 30 recruits enrolled into the Boys Company (later known as the Nigerian Military School) in 1954. They were known as the “First Platoon”.[1] In 1958, IBM Haruna went to Regular Officers’ Special Training School, Teshi, Ghana and later to Mons Officers’ Cadet School, Aldershot, England (1959).

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1961 upon his graduation as a member of RMA 27 of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom.

As an army officer, IBM Haruna attended various courses. These include Joint-Services Staff College (JSSC) Latimer, United Kingdom (1972-1973). Prior to this he had qualified as an Ordnance Officer at the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Blackdown, United Kingdom in 1963.

He was appointed the Principal Provision Control and Accounts Officer, Army Base Ordnance Depot, Yaba, Lagos (1964); Commanding Officer, Base Ordnance Depot, Yaba-Lagos (1965); Chief Ordnance Officer Nigerian Army and Ordnance Corps Commander (1966-1967); Leader, Army Delegation to U.S.A. Orientation Visit (1966). At the onset of the Nigerian Civil War he was appointed Rear Commander, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna (1967).

He was once Commandant, Lagos Garrison Organisation and 3 Marine Commandant.

He was also the Quarter Master General, Nigerian Army (1968); General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division (Main), Nigerian Army, Onitsha (1968-1969); Principal Staff Officer (PSO), Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks Lagos (1969); Quartermaster General, Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQ) (1970); Member of the General Adebayo Committee for the Re-Absorption of Biafran former Nigerian Army Officers (1970); Chairman Ceremonial Committee, 2nd All African Games (1970); and the Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture (1975-1977).

On 14 December 1973 he was appointed General Officer Commanding of the First Infantry Division.

As the Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture, he established the National Television Authority (NTA) in 1975 and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he also advocated for the Press Council of Nigeria. He attended UNESCO Conference on Culture Accra-Ghana (1975) and Non-Aligned Nations Conference, New Delhi, India (1976).

He left the Nigerian Army as a Major General in 1977.
In September 2017, IBM Haruna who holds the traditional title of Walin Garkida , and married with children and grand-children, was made the Life Patron of the Nigerian Military School (NMS) Zaria Ex-Boys Association, FCT Chapter.

OpenLife Nigeria had reported that on 26 July 2023, a coup d’état occurred in the Republic of the Niger when the country’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum who was democratically elected President of the country in 2021,.

In the process, presidential guard commander, General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta, shortly after confirming the coup a success.