The Nigerien junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, appears to be turning to unconventional methods to sustain its grip on power. A video circulating online shows Tchiani meeting with a cult priest, allegedly to seek mystical guidance against countries and organizations opposing his regime.
In the video, cult members can be heard chanting slogans in support of Tchiani. They declared, “We know all of them and we’re saying they’re nothing; they’re all liars. This country’s survival depends only on Tchiani. Without Tchiani, everything else is a fallacy.
“We’ll live to witness and supervise their downfall; this we assure, and emphatically so.”
Tchiani rose to power after overthrowing former President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. Following the coup, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with other regional leaders, threatened military intervention. The threat prompted Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On Sunday, security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama shared the video on his X (formerly Twitter) account. His post was captioned, “Finally, the Bokayen Groups Deploy Demonic Spiritual Forces Against Nigeria and other Countries Opposing Niger.”
The Bokayen groups, known for their mystical practices, have reportedly vowed to use their so-called “demonic forces” to counter any nation perceived as undermining Niger’s sovereignty.
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