The Nigeria military says it supports the
talks between the federal government and Niger Delta militants, but it will not
relent in making criminals “regret the consequences of their evil action”. Rabe
Abubakar, defence spokesman, said this in a statement in Tuesday.
There have been attacks on
oil installations in the Niger Delta despite a truce between the government and
some militant groups. In an obvious response to this, Abubakar assured citizens
that the military was capable of defending them and critical infrastructure. “The
defence headquarters has re-emphasised that military will continue to abide by
the ongoing negotiation effort of the federal government with militants in
order to have peaceful settlement of the Niger Delta problem,” he said.
“However, while trying to
achieve this feat, the military would not take kindly to any individual or
group taking military’s good gesture of adherence to ceasefire and peaceful
disposition to the impasse for granted, otherwise military will respond
proportionately to any armed attacks against its location in a decisive but
professional manner in line with its constitutional mandate of defending innocent
citizens as well as national critical infrastructure. “It is also instructive
to state that the armed forces have the capacity to defend themselves just as
they did recently when a group of misguided elements under the militancy guise
attacked its location at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi local government
area of Cross River state where they paid dearly for their evil act.
“The armed forces
therefore warn various belligerent groups in either the Niger Delta or any
other part of the nation to desist from any act capable of jeopardising peace
and security of our country or they will regret the consequences of their evil
action. “The armed forces of Nigeria would continue to partner with
peace-minded groups and stakeholders to bring lasting peace in any security
threatened areas or locations.” Last Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari
vowed not to allow militants to hold the country to ransom.
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