West African leaders activate standby force to put pressure on junta in Niger

Ecowas says force is a last resort and would prefer diplomatic means of reinstating President Bazoum after army coup

Leaders of a powerful west African regional bloc have ordered the activation of its standby force, increasing the pressure on the senior army officers who deposed Niger's democratically elected leader last month but leaving the door open for a diplomatic solution.

Speaking after an emergency Ecowas summit in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria warned that no option is taken off the tables including the use of force as the last resort".