Government and military is using multi-faceted approach rather than
force alone to ensure that resurgent attacks on oil and gas
installations are stopped.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, said on Monday that the military would engage Niger Delta Avengers to stop attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.
Olonishakin
said this at the inauguration of 12 refurbished gun boats 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.
“If they continue
to choose the path of bombing pipelines (after engagement moves), then
we will go after them and deal with the situation appropriately,” he said.
Olonishakin
said that efforts were on to provide more gun boats and other military
hardware for troops to maintain 24-hours patrol of about 5,000 creeks
and waterways in the region.
The military chief
said that the provision of military hardware would boost capacity of
Operation Pulo Shield` to confront oil theft and illegal bunkering of
petroleum products in the region.
“Repair of
these gun boats 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 continuing 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 crises situations in the area.
Other
service chiefs at the event included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice
Adm. 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. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi
Olonishakin, said on Monday that the military would engage Niger Delta
Avengers to stop attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger
Delta.
Olonishakin said this at the inauguration
of 12 refurbished gun boats 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.
“If they continue
to choose the path of bombing pipelines (after engagement moves), then
we will go after them and deal with the situation appropriately,” he said.
Olonishakin
said that efforts were on to provide more gun boats and other military
hardware for troops to maintain 24-hours patrol of about 5,000 creeks
and waterways in the region.
The military chief
said that the provision of military hardware would boost capacity of
Operation Pulo Shield` to confront oil theft and illegal bunkering of
petroleum products in the region.
“Repair of
these gun boats 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
continuing 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 crises situations in the area.
Other
service chiefs at the event included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice
Adm. 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.
