Also, the Federal Government yesterday ruled out fresh amnesty for the militants. It said that it would not reward criminals with medals under the guise of seeking peace.
The Federal Government warned that it would not succumb to the blackmail of the militants who have been vandalising pipelines and other strategic oil facilities in the oilrich region.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, vowed that the military would go after the militants if they fail to stop the attacks on national assets. “If they continue to choose the path of bombing pipelines, then we will go after them and deal with the situation appropriately,” he said.
Olonishakin spoke at the inauguration of 12 refurbished gunboats and 40-bed space accommodation for troops in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers. He said that the military was currently assessing the situation in the Niger Delta with a view to engaging stakeholders to maintain law and order in the region.
According to him, engagement with militants will involve governors of various states and political leaders in the Niger Delta. “Government and military is using multi-faceted approach rather than force alone to ensure that resurgent attacks on oil and gas installations are stopped.
“We have told them (militants) to stop the destruction of oil and gas facilities and other critical national assets, as it negatively affects the economy with impact on livelihood of the people.
“If they (militants) have grievances, they should take it up with government rather than their current approach which is not in the best interest of the nation,” he said.
Olonishakin said that efforts were on to provide more gunboats and other military hardware for troops to maintain 24- hour patrol of about 5,000 creeks and waterways in the region.
The military chief said that the provision of military hardware would boost the capacity of Operation Pulo Shield “to confront oil theft and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the region.”
“Repair of these gunboats will, no doubt, improve the capacity of the brigade to meet its responsibility in curtailing criminal acts in our inland waterways,” he added.
Olonishakin commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Commander of Army 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, for the repair of the boats.
Also, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the armed forces were currently faced with logistics challenges in its operations in the Niger Delta. He said, however, that the challenges would not deter troops from continu-ing to fight the menace of sea piracy, militancy, oil theft and general insecurity in the region.
According to him, the 40-bed space accommodation, will serve as an operating base for troops to patrol and respond to crisis situations in the area. Other service chiefs at the event included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, among others.
Who war eep? It can't be the solution
ReplyDelete