Don’t bomb Niger Delta – Ex-Kaduna gov warns Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari
Former
Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (retd), on
Tuesday warned President Muhammadu Buhari against deploying troops and
military hardware in the Niger Delta to halt the activities of militants
in the region.Umar said the Federal Government’s planned use of force to rout out militants, especially the Niger Delta Avengers in the Niger Delta, was not the best option; adding that the militants were still amenable to dialogue.
President Muhammad Buhari was, in a statement credited to him by his Senior Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Mr. Garba Shehu, in Nairobi, Kenya, quoted to have said that he would treat Niger Delta agitators the same way he dealt with Boko Haram if they failed to negotiate.
But the former governor in a statement entitled, ‘War in the Niger Delta: A most dangerous option,’ argued that the militants could not be treated like Boko Haram insurgents that had killed over 20,000 Nigerians in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Umar argued that the Niger Delta militants could not be said to be terrorists in the real sense of the word, warning that collateral damages to any military option in that region would be colossal.
Umar said, “I am really frightened by the sudden escalation in the Niger Delta Region from where there are some reports of skirmishes between our security forces and the Niger Delta militants. This is happening after the President was quoted as vowing to deal with the militants as he did to Boko Haram.
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“As a retired general, Mr. President is well aware of the serious and daunting challenges any military will face in its operations in the most difficult and densely populated Niger Delta region.
“The creeks are so heavily polluted with oil, rendering them highly inflammable. It will take the firing of a few high explosive shells to set the whole area on fire, resulting in the inestimable collateral damage among innocent civilians.
“It is also difficult to see how an armed conflict can secure our oil and gas assets in the region. Instead, it will aid the destructive activities of the militants and lead to the total shutdown of all oil and gas operations in the area.”
The former governor added, “Besides, the Niger Delta militants cannot be said to be terrorists in the real sense of the word. I believe they are amenable to meaningful dialogue.
“I need not to remind the President that a war in the Niger Delta will be opposed by most objective Nigerians and the international community as unjust and merely aimed at the control and exploitation of the region’s oil and gas resources.
“I therefore beseech you, Mr. President, in the name of all that is good, to continue to explore peaceful means of resolving the Niger Delta crisis as painful as you may find this. May God direct and guide you on the path of justice.” posted by www.alabareport.com
Army trains 200 special
marines to tackle Niger Delta militants
Soonest Nathaniel 6 months ago 233042
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– In preparation to completely still the brewing storm within the Niger
Delta, the army has trained 200 special soldiers
– Brig-Gen Olabanji made the disclosure in Port Harcourt at the
graduation ceremony of recruits in Harry’s town
– The army chief is confident the training will make a difference in the
war against militancy in the Niger Delta
– Niger Delta leaders fear that a continued raid by the army might cause
new militants to spring in the region
The Nigerian army has said it has specially trained 200 soldiers to
carry out special marine operations and rescue missions in the Niger
Delta, following the resurgence of militant activities in the region.
Brig-Gen Stevenson Olabanji, the Commander of 2 Brigade, Nigerian
army, said this at the graduation ceremony of young soldiers of 73
Regular Recruit In-take in Harry’s town, Degema Local Government Area of
Rivers state.
Olabanji said the exercise by Operation Pulo Shield Sector 2 is aimed
at equipping soldiers with the requisite marine skills and boost troop’s
readiness at combating oil theft in the region.
According to him, the army leadership has taken personnel training
seriously in view of current security challenges confronting the nation
in the northeast and other parts of the country.
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marine-Nigerian-exercises
File photo: The Nigerian army says 200 special soldiers have been
trained to aid quell the storm in the Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Army declares Nigerian ‘Osama Bin Laden’ wanted
“To this end, the training began on December 14 with 200 young and
fresh soldiers from Nigeria army depot in Zaria with the aim of
familiarizing them with their operating environment.
“The soldiers were trained in basic unit regimentation covering field
craft and minor tactics, internal security operations, general service
knowledge, range classification and swimming, among others.
“The young soldiers also received special training in basic swimming
lessons owing to the peculiar nature of our operating environment.
“This swimming exercise is to equip with necessary survival skills as
they will be operating in coastal areas,” he said.
Olabanji expressed optimism that the training would boost soldiers’
proficiency to better navigate the creeks, and as such, put an end to
oil theft and attacks on oil installations in the region.
The commander said that current dynamics in the country require that the
army become more professional in the dis-charge of its
responsibilities and operation conduct.
The army chief advised the 200 soldiers to obey military and civil
laws, stressing that discipline, hard work and commitment must be the
watchword in discharge of their duties.
In the same vein, the navy has launched 25 gunboats to tackle kidnapping
and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
The chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Abas, made the
disclosure while speaking at the central naval command (CNC) in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa state.
Abas said he inaugurated gunboats in Port Harcourt to support operations
against kidnapping and other crimes in the maritime environment. Adding
that the force will not rest on its oars till vandalism and vandal
become a thing of the past in the south-south region.
Meanwhile, there is growing tension in certain communities within Gokana
local government area of Rivers state over an alleged plot by the
military to conduct mass arrest of suspected militants or cultists.
Rulers of the communities have cried out, lamenting that the recent
spate of raids by the army is not doing the region much good.
Some youth leaders have in recent times warned that the continued
alleged persecution of some ex-warlords, could cause more militants to
spring-up within the volatile region.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
Army trains 200 special
marines to tackle Niger Delta militants
Soonest Nathaniel 6 months ago 233042
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Send email
– In preparation to completely still the brewing storm within the Niger
Delta, the army has trained 200 special soldiers
– Brig-Gen Olabanji made the disclosure in Port Harcourt at the
graduation ceremony of recruits in Harry’s town
– The army chief is confident the training will make a difference in the
war against militancy in the Niger Delta
– Niger Delta leaders fear that a continued raid by the army might cause
new militants to spring in the region
The Nigerian army has said it has specially trained 200 soldiers to
carry out special marine operations and rescue missions in the Niger
Delta, following the resurgence of militant activities in the region.
Brig-Gen Stevenson Olabanji, the Commander of 2 Brigade, Nigerian
army, said this at the graduation ceremony of young soldiers of 73
Regular Recruit In-take in Harry’s town, Degema Local Government Area of
Rivers state.
Olabanji said the exercise by Operation Pulo Shield Sector 2 is aimed
at equipping soldiers with the requisite marine skills and boost troop’s
readiness at combating oil theft in the region.
According to him, the army leadership has taken personnel training
seriously in view of current security challenges confronting the nation
in the northeast and other parts of the country.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
marine-Nigerian-exercises
File photo: The Nigerian army says 200 special soldiers have been
trained to aid quell the storm in the Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Army declares Nigerian ‘Osama Bin Laden’ wanted
“To this end, the training began on December 14 with 200 young and
fresh soldiers from Nigeria army depot in Zaria with the aim of
familiarizing them with their operating environment.
“The soldiers were trained in basic unit regimentation covering field
craft and minor tactics, internal security operations, general service
knowledge, range classification and swimming, among others.
“The young soldiers also received special training in basic swimming
lessons owing to the peculiar nature of our operating environment.
“This swimming exercise is to equip with necessary survival skills as
they will be operating in coastal areas,” he said.
Olabanji expressed optimism that the training would boost soldiers’
proficiency to better navigate the creeks, and as such, put an end to
oil theft and attacks on oil installations in the region.
The commander said that current dynamics in the country require that the
army become more professional in the dis-charge of its
responsibilities and operation conduct.
The army chief advised the 200 soldiers to obey military and civil
laws, stressing that discipline, hard work and commitment must be the
watchword in discharge of their duties.
In the same vein, the navy has launched 25 gunboats to tackle kidnapping
and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
The chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Abas, made the
disclosure while speaking at the central naval command (CNC) in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa state.
Abas said he inaugurated gunboats in Port Harcourt to support operations
against kidnapping and other crimes in the maritime environment. Adding
that the force will not rest on its oars till vandalism and vandal
become a thing of the past in the south-south region.
Meanwhile, there is growing tension in certain communities within Gokana
local government area of Rivers state over an alleged plot by the
military to conduct mass arrest of suspected militants or cultists.
Rulers of the communities have cried out, lamenting that the recent
spate of raids by the army is not doing the region much good.
Some youth leaders have in recent times warned that the continued
alleged persecution of some ex-warlords, could cause more militants to
spring-up within the volatile region.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
Army trains 200 special
marines to tackle Niger Delta militants
Soonest Nathaniel 6 months ago 233042
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Send email
– In preparation to completely still the brewing storm within the Niger
Delta, the army has trained 200 special soldiers
– Brig-Gen Olabanji made the disclosure in Port Harcourt at the
graduation ceremony of recruits in Harry’s town
– The army chief is confident the training will make a difference in the
war against militancy in the Niger Delta
– Niger Delta leaders fear that a continued raid by the army might cause
new militants to spring in the region
The Nigerian army has said it has specially trained 200 soldiers to
carry out special marine operations and rescue missions in the Niger
Delta, following the resurgence of militant activities in the region.
Brig-Gen Stevenson Olabanji, the Commander of 2 Brigade, Nigerian
army, said this at the graduation ceremony of young soldiers of 73
Regular Recruit In-take in Harry’s town, Degema Local Government Area of
Rivers state.
Olabanji said the exercise by Operation Pulo Shield Sector 2 is aimed
at equipping soldiers with the requisite marine skills and boost troop’s
readiness at combating oil theft in the region.
According to him, the army leadership has taken personnel training
seriously in view of current security challenges confronting the nation
in the northeast and other parts of the country.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
marine-Nigerian-exercises
File photo: The Nigerian army says 200 special soldiers have been
trained to aid quell the storm in the Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Army declares Nigerian ‘Osama Bin Laden’ wanted
“To this end, the training began on December 14 with 200 young and
fresh soldiers from Nigeria army depot in Zaria with the aim of
familiarizing them with their operating environment.
“The soldiers were trained in basic unit regimentation covering field
craft and minor tactics, internal security operations, general service
knowledge, range classification and swimming, among others.
“The young soldiers also received special training in basic swimming
lessons owing to the peculiar nature of our operating environment.
“This swimming exercise is to equip with necessary survival skills as
they will be operating in coastal areas,” he said.
Olabanji expressed optimism that the training would boost soldiers’
proficiency to better navigate the creeks, and as such, put an end to
oil theft and attacks on oil installations in the region.
The commander said that current dynamics in the country require that the
army become more professional in the dis-charge of its
responsibilities and operation conduct.
The army chief advised the 200 soldiers to obey military and civil
laws, stressing that discipline, hard work and commitment must be the
watchword in discharge of their duties.
In the same vein, the navy has launched 25 gunboats to tackle kidnapping
and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
The chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Abas, made the
disclosure while speaking at the central naval command (CNC) in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa state.
Abas said he inaugurated gunboats in Port Harcourt to support operations
against kidnapping and other crimes in the maritime environment. Adding
that the force will not rest on its oars till vandalism and vandal
become a thing of the past in the south-south region.
Meanwhile, there is growing tension in certain communities within Gokana
local government area of Rivers state over an alleged plot by the
military to conduct mass arrest of suspected militants or cultists.
Rulers of the communities have cried out, lamenting that the recent
spate of raids by the army is not doing the region much good.
Some youth leaders have in recent times warned that the continued
alleged persecution of some ex-warlords, could cause more militants to
spring-up within the volatile region.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/747503-read-what-nigerian-army-is-doing-to-fight-militancy-in-niger-delta.html
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