Niger police arrest more than 600 in security crackdown more than 1 month after coup
By APWednesday, March 31, 2010
Niger police arrest more than 600 in crackdown
NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s police director says police have arrested more than 600 people in an effort to crackdown on recent crime and insecurity in the capital.
Alassane Toungoudoutt said Wednesday the arrests were an attempt to dismantle gangs in the West African nation’s capital. Fifty women were among those detained.
The arrests come more than a month after renegade soldiers overthrew President Mamadou Tandja in a coup after the aging leader refused to step down when his mandate expired in December. It is unclear whether the crackdown is aimed at opponents of those who seized power.
The junta later announced it would form a transitional government giving Maj. Salou Djibou the power to appoint a premier and Cabinet.
