Former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd), yesterday, warned President Muhammadu Buhari against use of force on Niger Delta militants, saying the collateral damage of any military option in the oil-rich region would be colossal. Umar argued in a statement entitled: “War in the Niger Delta: A most dangerous option,” that the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) should not be treated like Boko Haram insurgents, responsible for the killing of over 20,000 Nigerians in the North-East.
Buhari recently vowed to deal with Niger Delta militants the same way his administration dealt with Boko Haram if they fail to negotiate with the Federal Government as the attention of his administration is now focused on stopping the destruction of the country’s economic assets by militants in the oil-rich region.
Buhari, who spoke on the sidelines at the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya, insisted that the militants must dialogue with the Federal Government or be dealt with in the same way like Boko Haram. But, Umar, who warned against deployment of troops in Niger Delta, noted that the militants could not be likened to terrorists, adding that dialogue remains the best option.
His words: “I am really frightened by the sudden escalation in the Niger Delta 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. “All factors considered, the use of military force in an attempt to resolve the lingering crisis is not a good option and must, therefore, be discarded. 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.
“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.
“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.”
– New Telegraph
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