The leadership of the Nigerian army has pledged respect for the two weeks ceasefire declared by the Nigerian president to allow for negotiations between the Niger Delta militants and government representatives.
Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai
The Nigerian Army says it will continue to observe a two-week ceasefire declared by Federal Government, even as militants continue their attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
Ibrahim Attahiru, a major general and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this on Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of a meeting held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He said 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.
He, however, warned that the military would resume its operations in the region if the militants continued to disregard the ceasefire. Mr. Attahiru said the meeting of the Army’s field commanders was also held to appraise the current security situation in the country. He said the army would apply its rules of engagement in its operations in the Niger Delta, especially where it is deemed necessary.
“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.
Mr. 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.