The Nigerian Army on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the two-week ceasefire declared by the Federal Government despite the continued attacks on oil installations by militants in the Niger Delta region.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Ibrahim Attahiru, said this on Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of a meeting held at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The GOC 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, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Abuja.
Mr. Attahiru, a major general, however, warned that military operations in the region would resume if the militants continued to disregard the ceasefire.
He said: “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”.
Maj.-Gen. 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.
“The issue of applying the rules of engagement is to emphasise our adherence to the necessary procedures in internal security operations”, he said.
The GOC further warned that the military would no longer tolerate further attacks on its units and formations in the Niger Delta or elsewhere in the country.
“Recently there was an attack on Nigerian Army troops in the Niger Delta; that will no longer be tolerated.
“Anywhere troops are attacked, formation commanders will apply the rules of engagement to the fullest, they will follow the attackers to wherever they came from”, he warned.
Mr. Attahiru said the meeting also deliberated on other operational issues, particularly those relating to training in the Nigerian Army.
The meeting had in attendance all the GOCs, Unit Commanders from across the country as well as senior officers at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
(NAN)
