SAN FRANCISCO, June 09, (THEWILL) – Despite continued attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region by militants, the Nigeria Army has expressed its commitment to uphold the two-week ceasefire declared by the Federal Government but warned that the military would resume its operations in the region if the militants continued to disregard the ceasefire.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a meeting attended all the GOCs, unit commanders from all parts of the country as well as senior officers at the Army Headquarters.
He explained that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the meeting of field commanders and principal staff officers, convened by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, in Abuja. The meeting of the Army’s field commanders was also held to appraise the current security situation in the country.
The GOC said the army would apply its rules of engagement in its operations in the Niger Delta, especially where it is deemed necessary.
According to him, “The Chief of Army Staff called a meeting of all Principal Staff Officers and General Officers Commanding, as well as Directors in the Army Headquarters.
“The meeting is essentially to brief us on the aftermath of the meeting in the presidency and give further operational directives on the happenings in the Niger Delta.
“The two-week ceasefire was such that all military operations in the region were supposed to stop to enable government to apply the non-kinetic means of reaching out to the militants.
“Now, the militants have resorted to continue with the attacks on pipelines, we will tarry for a while and if this does not stop, we will decisively act wherever it is necessary,’’ he said.
Attahiru said applying the rules of engagement in the military’s internal security operations was not an aberration but a means of preserving the unity and dignity of the nation.
“The issue of applying the rules of engagement is to emphasise our adherence to the necessary procedures in internal security operations,’’ he stated.
The Army warned that the military would no longer tolerate further attacks on its units and formations in the Niger Delta or elsewhere in the country.
“Recently there was an attack on Nigerian Army troops in the Niger Delta; that will no longer be tolerated.
“Anywhere troops are attacked, formation commanders will apply the rules of engagement to the fullest, they will follow the attackers to wherever they came from,” the GOC stated.
He explained that the meeting, which took place at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, also deliberated on other operational issues, particularly those relating to training in the Nigerian Army.
