President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s deposed leader is being held in a secret location by the military men that seized power in the West African state, according to the statement of the lawyers representing him on Friday. The legal practitioners had also denied accusations that the president had attempted to escape.
Recall that Bazoum has been in detention since the coup that happened on July 26 despite the international calls for him to be set free.
This news is coming after the junta had announced late Thursday evening that Bazoum and his family, with the aid of accomplices in the security forces, had schemed to drive a vehicle to the outskirts of the capital Niamey and catch a helicopter ride to neighbouring Nigeria.
However, Reuters had not been able to verify this account.
Bazoum’s lawyers on their part had dismissed the reports as nothing but a false concoction.
The lawyers had in the statement said that Bazoum and his family had no access to lawyers and to the outside world.
Bazoum and family had previously been kept in the presidential residence in the capital city, Niamey where power had been cut since August 2. Only one doctor could visit them every second day to give them supplies, according to the lawyers.
However, the lawyers had claimed that this doctor was denied entry today, Friday, October 20.
Following this, the lawyers demanded for the junta to show proof that the president and his wife and son were alive and well.
