ARMY THREATENS TO USE FORCE AGAINST THE MILITANTS

 Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai ( Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff) has warned that the Army will use force if the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups reject dialogue with the Federal Government.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, who was represented Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, spoke yesterday after inaugurating the two-storey administrative headquarters complex, Olympic-size swimming pool and two other projects at the 2 Brigade of the Army.

He also inaugurated four projects at the Military Hospital on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The inauguration was attended by Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Kenneth Kobani, and the immediate past Commander of 2 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, now the Commander of 3 Brigade, Kano. He initiated the inaugurated projects during his 11-month stay.

The befitting administrative headquarters at 2 Brigade and other projects were started in January, with the foundations laid by Gen. Buratai, and completed within six months.

The swimming pool was constructed for intensive training of army officers and men and to put an end to losing soldiers while operating in the creeks or coastal communities.

The army chief said: “Government is still committed to dialogue (with Niger Delta militants). Whereby this cannot go on, then there could be resort to other means. The non-kinetic means has always been the source first, before government can recourse to the kinetic means (dropping bombs and using bullets, using lethal force/full military action/war or killing people).

“So, there is the need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government.