Nigerien police inspector Habibou Oumarou Mamane appeared on the public television station RTN on 23 October 2026 to allege a plot involving the exfiltration of a Beninese official. On October 23, 2026, the Nigerien public television station RTN broadcast a testimony from police inspector Habibou Oumarou Mamane. Mamane testified that he was solicited on 27 February 2026 to locate and remove Pascal Tigri from the country. Habibou Oumarou Mamane claims he was solicited on February 27, 2026, to locate and exfiltrate Pascal Tigri. Tigri is identified as the individual responsible for a December 2025 attempt to overthrow Beninese President Patrice Talon. Pascal Tigri is identified as the author of a December 2025 attempt to overthrow Beninese President Patrice Talon. Mamane stated that he was tasked with organizing the extraction of the official, though he provided no further details regarding the identity of those who approached him or the success of the mission. The broadcast on RTN marks the first public disclosure of these specific allegations regarding the security status of Tigri.
Details of the Alleged Operation
Habibou Oumarou Mamane stated that he received two million CFA francs to fund the search operation for Pascal Tigri. The witness claims he received two million CFA francs at the Grand Marché of Niamey to fund the search operation. He collected these funds at the Grand Marché of Niamey.
Regarding his movements during the alleged plot, Habibou Oumarou Mamane reported meeting an individual using the pseudonym 'David' in Malanville, Benin. This encounter occurred during the period he was tasked with organizing the extraction of the official. Habibou Oumarou Mamane provided no further information regarding the identity or specific professional background of the person known as 'David'. The inspector described this meeting as a component of the broader efforts he was instructed to undertake to identify the location of the Beninese official.
Context of Regional Security Tensions
The Nigerien government characterized events in Niamey on 28 August and 29 August 2026 as a destabilization attempt. The Nigerien government characterized events in Niamey on August 28 and 29, 2026, as a destabilization attempt. Authorities identified these occurrences as a threat to national stability during that period. No further details regarding the specific nature of these events or the individuals involved were provided by the government in its official assessment. The government’s statement regarding the events in late August remains the primary official record provided by the state authorities regarding the security climate in Niamey during that timeframe. The testimony provided by Habibou Oumarou Mamane on RTN serves as the latest public development regarding security concerns involving officials from neighboring states. The inspector’s testimony remains under review, and no additional government officials have commented on the specific allegations regarding the search for Pascal Tigri since the broadcast concluded.
