Putschists claim ousted president Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape

The Nigerien putschist regime claimed, Thursday evening, October 19, that the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner since the coup d’état, had tried in vain to escape. “Around 3 a.m.”, “the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum, accompanied by his family, his two cooks, and two security elements tried to escape from his place of detention”declared the regime’s spokesperson, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, during an intervention on national television.

The escape plan was intended to first take the deposed president “in a hideout on the outskirts of Niamey”before heading towards aboard“helicopters belonging to a foreign power”, without specifying which one. According to Amadou Abdramane, this attempt “failed” and “the main perpetrators and some of their accomplices” have been arrested.

An open investigation

An investigation was also opened. Denouncing “irresponsible attitude” of Mohamed Bazoum, he did not give any information on the whereabouts of the deposed president on Thursday evening.

Mohamed Bazoum still refuses to resign. He has been held prisoner for three months in his residence within the presidential palace, with his wife Haziza and his son Salem. He took legal action in West Africa to request his release and the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.