The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government Thursday rose from its second Extraordinary Summit on the political impasse in Niger Republic with an order for the immediate deployment of its standby force to restore constitutional order in the country.

The regional body also called on partner countries including the United Nations (UN) to support its efforts at ensuring a quick restoration of order in conformity with its normative instruments.

These were part of the resolutions reached at the Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political solution in Republic of Niger chaired by ECOWAS Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

While noting that the regional body will continue to keep all the options open, ECOWAS, however, said there will be consequences for any individual, body or member country that will be found to hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic.

The communiqué, which was read by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Toure, further called on all partner countries and institutions including the United Nations to support ECOWAS in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order in conformity with its normative instruments.

“Direct the committee and its Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.

“Order the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” it stated.

Details later…