ABUJA – Nigerian Government has ruled out negotiation with the militants attacking oil installations under the aegis of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.
Army Chief, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the government’s position known on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the “State of the Nation Conference” organized by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.
Represented by Major General J. Hamakim, the Army Chief said the ongoing onslaught against the Avengers would continue until they are smoked out of the creeks.
Nigeria’s oil production has dropped to 1.1 million barrels per day, giving the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government serious concern.
“I quite agree that dialogue is very important. But where it is not too obvious that the adversary is ready to come out and talk, you can also force such a person.
“I think that is what the Nigerian Army is trying to do. Yes, we don’t know the group’s leaders for now.
“That is the only option. Possibly, we have to bring the people out to know who you can dialogue with,” Buratai said.
On the confrontation between the Nigerian Army and pro-Biafra protesters on Monday, he had this to say, “Remember that lives were lost; policemen were killed; some were thrown overboard and the military has rules of engagement.
“The question is how peaceful is the peaceful demonstration? How peaceful was the demonstration at that time? If it was that peaceful, how come we lost security agents?
“The rule of engagement is that if you feel threatened, you have the mandate to respond. What we can say is: that was not at all a demonstration that you can say was peaceful.”
