Nigerian Army to take full military action against Niger Delta militants if dialogue fails

The Nigerian Army would deploy full military action in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, if dialogue with the notorious militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers fails.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt -Gen Tukur Buratai, yesterday, said this in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Buratai, who spoke through the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Major-Gen Ibrahim Atahiru, at the commissioning of 2 Brigade Command administrative office complex in Port Harcourt, said the Federal Government was still committed to dialogue with the militant group, but that government could resort to other means if dialogue failed.

“The non-kinetic has always been the source first before government can recourse to the kinetic means. There is the need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government,” he said.

He commended the 2 Brigade Command for the completion of the office complex, saying that the office block would improve the operational efficiency and capability of officers and men of the Command.

The Army chief later commissioned other projects at the Command such as the swimming pool, office complex for regiment officers as well as building blocks at the Command Hospital.