A Nigerian newspaper reported Sunday, citing sources, that the leader of the new military junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, said the coup in Niver saved Nigeria from an imminent threat. 

According to the Daily Trust, Tchiani reportedly told a Nigerian delegation of Islamic religious leaders that the coup in Niger was well-intended. 

"They struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected not only the Niger Republic but also Nigeria," senior Nigerian cleric, Sheik Bala Lau, quoted Tchiani as saying during their Saturday meeting.    

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as chairman of West African regional bloc ECOWAS, condemned the coup in late July and called for ousted President Mohamad Bazoum to be reinstated.

Read more: An attack on Niger could unleash war across Africa: Bazoum's advisor

ECOWAS had offered the coup leaders one week to reinstate Bazoum and restore order, implying that military intervention might be necessary otherwise. On that note, the ultimatum expired last Sunday. 

Leader of Niger coup tells Nigerian delegation to lift sanctions

Earlier on Sunday, the head of Niger's new leadership, Ali Lamine Zeine, claimed that the leader of the junta who took power in Niger, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, met with a delegation of religious leaders from Nigeria and told them about the need to ease the sanctions put on Niamey.  

"The head of the country instructed them [religious leaders] to explain everything that we would like to see in the coming days, that is, the lifting of these measures, which are inhumane ... and unacceptable," Zeine was quoted as saying by the RTN broadcaster.

He also noted that the new authorities in Niger are open to mediation efforts to normalize the situation.

Read more: 'Down with France, ECOWAS': Nigeriens protesting near French army base