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Nigeria vows to confront militants in oil rich Niger Delta

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian government on Monday said the military would engage Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a new militant group, to stop attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

The new group has launched a violent campaign of vandalizing pipelines and blowing up critical oil facilities in parts of the oil-rich region.

The NDA has claimed responsibility for the destruction of oil facilities in the region.

Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin made the government position known at the inauguration of 12 refurbished gun boats and 40-bed space accommodation for troops in Okirika local government area of Rivers.

He said 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.

The defense chief said 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," he added.

Olonishakin said 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 the provision of military hardware would boost capacity to confront oil theft and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the region.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the armed forces were currently faced with logistics challenges in its operations in the Niger Delta.

He said 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. Endit