Police claim concerning Chadians is baseless –Ambassador

What do you have to say to the claims by the police that some of the those who attack Kano speak Chad languages? Let me start by tracing how our relationship with Nigeria started. I send my condolences and sympathy to Nigerians on the recent attacks on some part of the country. The relationship between […]

What do you have to say to the claims by the police that some of the those who attack Kano speak Chad languages?

Let me start by tracing how our relationship with Nigeria started. I send my condolences and sympathy to Nigerians on the recent attacks on some part of the country. The relationship between both countries is an aged long one and dated back to the pre-colonial era specifically during the period Islam entered Borno since the eleventh century.   Since then we have mixed and related well with one another and if not for colonialism  the two countries would have been one.

When the French colonialists came and as a result of hard labour during that era, many Chadians fled and came to settle in Nigeria which led to the expansion of Maiduguri and were also involved in the construction of roads from the core north to the North central as well as construction of many buildings in Jos, Kaduna and Bauchi. Also, when there were upheavals in Chad, many of our citizens came and became refugees in Nigeria and were treated well by the Nigerian authority which we appreciated. There are many Nigerians now with Chadian origins who are doing well and holding high offices which we saw as a starting point for African integration.

Majority of Chadians in Nigeria are already citizens of Nigeria through nationalization having lived in the country for decades. The major language in Chad is Arabic and French, although we have other local languages but the two are the major ones. Most Chadians in Nigeria have been here since the colonial era because most of them who were taken to build the Congo railway then ran and came to Nigeria as refugees and settled here. When they were recruiting for the west African Forces, some Chadians living here were taken and fought during the first and second world wars as well as the Biafra war. So, a lot of them are in Maiduguri, Jos, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano and some other parts of the country.

There is an agreement between Nigeria and Chad. We have a brigade in Bagakawa controlling our borders and taking care of security on the borders and during the last visit of Chad pPresident to Nigeria, there was an agreement between him and President Jonathan to reinforce the task force.

When you saw the police claim, how did you feel and what is your reaction to that?

No Chadian is connected with what is happening in Nigeria, so, it is quite unfortunate that the police and the media say an inciting statement that can cause mistrust because we are the same considering our relationship over the years. We are sister countries and sorry about the whole situation in the country.

It is unfortunate for them not to have consulted us before telling the press because we have Consulates in Maiduguri, Lagos and the embassy in Abuja by giving us the names of Chadians involved and get confirmation from us. There are many of our citizens in Kano who are living and working there. We have gotten in touch with them.

None of them is affected by  the blast but they were very annoyed with the story because we are always sensitizing them not to intervene in the internal affairs of Nigeria especially political or religious problems and that is what they have been doing. Chadians are traders dealing in livestock businesses. All our citizens in Nigeria frowns at the accusation because, to them, it is a mere accusation that have not been verified by the Nigerian authority before rushing to the press.

Have you contacted your people to know if there is any suspicious move by any of them getting involved in such act?

Chadians are worried about the situation just like Nigerians and the publication is not helpful especially to Chadians to feel at ease at all because the relationship between us is so deep that it will be difficult for the police to say such things without meeting us first before telling journalists.

Majority of Chadians are muslims and are peaceful not  violent like we have some set of people in Nigeria perpetrating violence in the name of Islam. We relate peacefully in Chad irrespective of our religion.

What have you done in reaction to the claim?

I have been directed by my own government to report the case to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We just sent a note verbal to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draw their attention to the immediate impact of such claim by the police and the publication but we are still waiting for Nigeria’s reaction to the note.

Has there been any report before now concerning your citizens in Nigeria getting involved in acts of violence or anything?

There is a military agreement which resulted into the creation of a joint task force between Chad, Niger and Nigeria which is based in Bagakawa to control the border, ensure security of the  border and prevent hoodlums from perpetrating evil in all the three country’s borders. Though the work is a very difficult one so there may be some mistakes and since inception of the task force, I have not heard of any problem of such. The task force was established during General Abacha’s regime.

Having written to the Nigerian authority, what is your next line of action concerning the claim?

We are demanding the Nigeria police to come and dialogue with us, show us evidences of their claims that Chadians were involved in the Kano attacks and take these people up. I have been receiving reactions from Chadians in Nigeria concerning the police claim and they demand  evidence from the police because it is not true and they are angry with it.

To us, we believe the police are only looking for a scapegoat because when one considers the amount budgeted for security in the country over the years, it is clear that they are not doing enough and always pointing accusing fingers at some neighboring countries. Chadians have not, will not and can never be part of such criminal and violent act.

Looking at internal crisis in Chad, how is the situation like now in the country?

The Crisis in Chad has come down since 2008, we are now in a period of peace and the Chadian government has started undertaking formidable economic projects and today, the country is at peace and development has started and is continuing.

The former president of Chad, Hissen Habre, who ran away from the country on December 1, 1990, settled in Senegal. Investigations and white paper on the Chadian war and crime committed by Habre were published which revealed that he killed more than 40, 000 people and we wanted him to be prosecuted. Regrettably, despite the request from the families of the victims, Chadian government and African Union, he has not been prosecuted but hopefully he will be one day.

The African Union has reacted to Habre’s case and wanted him prosecuted for his offence, Belgium has offered to prosecute him but AU and Chad have preference for Rwanda for his trial because we would like him to be charged in African soil as Rwanda has the structure to do so.

Does his stay in Senegal affect Chad relationship with the country?

It will be difficult for Chad that is trying so hard for African integration to engage in any problem with Senegal over the issue. Even though it is difficult to accept such thing on humanitarian ground, we still maintain a good relationship with Senegal.

Which other organization does the country belong to in Africa?

Not yet a member of ECOWAS but have an observer status there because we are willing to be part of the Commission which we are hoping to come up soon.