Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation in the ruling All Progressives Congress, has claimed that if military forces from Niger, Burkina Faso, or Mali attack Nigeria, Nigeria will reply quickly.

This comes amid fears of conflict after Nigerien soldiers deposed civilian president Mohamed Bazoum last week.

Following a threat by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWA) to launch military action against the Niger junta if Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated as president, the military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali joined forces with Niger, declaring that any military action would result in war.

Reacting to threats emerging from Niger, Fani-Kayode in a tweet on Friday said though he does not want war, Nigeriens soldiers should not take Nigerians for granted.

He wrote, “I do not want a war and I do not believe that we should initiate hostilities by invading or deploying troops to Niger Republic unless it is absolutely necessary.

However, if Niger, Burkina Faso and/or Mali attack Nigeria or any of our ECOWAS allies for any reason whatsoever, or if they deploy their forces on even one inch of our soil, our response must be swift, shocking, deadly and devastating.

“We must kick them out, occupy their Southern territories, take their capital, Niamey, topple their military government, and re-establish democracy. If a puppy nibbles at the toes of a lion, it must be taught the lesson of its life lest it forget that it is nothing but a dog”.