President Buhari Deploys Service Chiefs To Niger Delta Over Rising Militancy

President Muhammadu Buhari has made good his threat to deal with those blowing up oil installations in the Niger Delta like Boko Haram terrorists are being dealt as he has dispatched the nation’s service chiefs to the oil-rich region to confront the resurgent militancy and secure the area from economic sabotage and other acts of criminality.

It would be recalled that Buhari had while in China, warned those behind unlawful activities in the region to either desist from any criminal acts and economic sabotage or be ready to be treated like terrorists operating in Nigeria’s North-east.

In line with a presidential directive, a team, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Gabriel Olanisakin, accompanied by the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas yesterday stormed the headquarters of the Operation Pulo Shield in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Speaking on the inspection tour, Olonisakin pledged the resolve of the Nigerian Armed Forces to deal with pipeline vandals, oil thieves, kidnappers, cultists and sundry crimes in the Niger Delta region, even as the team identified 10 security threats in the region.

The CDS, who was conducted round by Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Maj-Gen Alani Okunlola, explained that: “The visit followed the strategic directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammad Buhari, to deal with identified security threats in the Niger Delta,” adding that the visits was to access the challenges of the troops with a view to addressing them to ensure operational effectiveness in dealing with the threats.

According to him, “I am in Yenagoa on operational visit to Operation Pulo Shield as well as the Boat House vessel we have in Akassa.

“It is such that we can understand the challenges they are facing here and address these challenges to enhance their operational effectiveness and efficiency.”