Tension in Niger Delta as military begins special drill
• Army Confirms Killing Of Five
• IYC Condemns Action
There was palpable tension and apprehension among residents of some communities in the oil rich, but troubled Niger Delta yesterday, as the special military drills in preparation for the launching of Operation Crocodile Smile.
Already, the Nigerian Military has confirmed the killing of five suspected militants, who allegedly attacked troops as they prepared for the exercise.
Spokesman of the Army Col Sani Usman said the 133 Special Forces Battalion of the Nigerian Army in the course of carrying out a precursor operation to the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’, were attacked by militants.
According to him, “In the course of the operation, five militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested.”
The Operation, which Usman said is aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta, was conducted on Friday August 26, and was carried out by the Special Forces at the militants’ camps.
He disclosed that many weapons were recovered, including two AK-47 rifles, 11 Pump Action Guns, a locally made revolver pistol, 292 cartridges of live ammunition, 199 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition, four electricity generating sets and a camp gas cooker.
“The troops also recovered an abandoned Engine Boat left by the fleeing criminals,” he said
The deployment has, however created apprehension among residents of the riverine communities, causing an atmosphere of a siege.
Speaking on the military drills, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said he was inundated with complaints of people scampering for safety and fleeing into the forest on sighting the troops.
Eradiri said in the spirit of the ongoing dialogue to resolve the crisis in the region, the Federal Government ought to have called off all military operations in Niger Delta.
He said it amounted to insincerity on the part of the government to be demanding dialogue, while at the same time conducting an exercise to launch a major military operation in the region.
Eradiri insisted that any form of military action in the region could jeopardize the efforts of the leaders, led by Chief E.K Clark to stop the crisis.
He said: “The EK Clark Committee has brought all Niger Delta leaders together. The MEND and the avengers support them. The other day, the Minister for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu met with them again.
“President Buhari has not shown sincerity in resolving this problem. He must withdraw the military from Niger Delta, if he wants genuine discussions. We are skeptical seeing soldiers mobilizing and jumping here and there.”
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16 Comments
Let us give peace a chance.Please.It is unfortunate things are like there are in the Delta and Nigeria as a whole.We all share in the blame.But we must move forward as a Nation and people.Violence is the alternate to dialogue and peace.There can never be development in the atmosphere of insecurity and violence.
You are right, but who started the insecurity and violence? Nobody forced this NDA idiots to do so.
Now the Government have to bring back security and low and order by force, so simple!
Mr Udengs Eradiri,take this genocide case to ICC…Burantashi d Nigerian army defenseless pples killer must b reported to d Hague now…
ICC would rather arrest and charge Udengs Eradiri should they set eyes on him,maybe you do not know that stoking ethnic tension is a crime against humanity
Ewu…
More grease to our gallant soldiers and we wish them God speed in ridding the Niger delta of miscreants and criminals
Really?! Soldiers attacking their fellow citizens (miscreants or otherwise)?! Certainly, Nigeria is not a nation, and Nigerians are not a people. Let Nigeria disintegrate.
That’s why I am calling on government to recycle people like you into nitrogen so that the society can move forward
What a very hilarious idea of moving forward, ???.
When Jonathan was there, why was there no such demand?
NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE!!!
DRUM OF WAR: Once someone on these fora questioned my comment if I had seen any DEVELOPMENT whatsoever in Niger Delta as a result of trillions of crude oil exported from ND all these years. I responded, there can be DEVELOPMENT, there should be, there must be, there has to be and there will be, if Niger Delta Scavengers are willing to sit around the conference table for negotiation like civilized people with all stakeholders, that is, the key players in oil and gas businesses either foreign and or indigenous. The situation today is different from that of Abacha´s era. Blowing up pipelines will not miraculously change the scenario. Beating the drum of war is not the best solution either. The common people of Niger Delta will be the first to bear the dire consequences of civil war. The scars of the last civil war have not been completely healed. The Russians, the United States of America and a dozen of other weapon manufacturers will be very very happy and thankful to sell their weapons to IDIOT Africans (Nigerians in this case) and watch us consume ourselves in infernal stupid civil war. Or you think the FG will continue folding its hands and watch vandalism to continue for as long as three more years? I am not a fan of Buhari at all, but we must give ourselves wisdom to reason. The situation in which we found ourselves today did not start this year nor last year. It is many decades long problems which cannot be fixed overnight. Give peace a chance and watch things change for better. You see, God feeds on Satan. When Satan vanishes, God will die of hunger.
“God feeds on Satan” this quote is very crazy.
NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE!!!
Dear Mr. Ogbanufe, how are you? It may sound and look crazy to some (mentally unprepared) people, but if we were able to give a reflection on this quote, we might find some sort of wisdom and self enlightenment in it. The reason is very simple; they made us believe that God is so powerful and capable of anything right? Then why does HE allow Satan to be torturing humanity? I said humanity because I do not have any knowledge of any animal or plants seeking help and protection from God. Therefore by allowing Satan to continue existing and carrying out all sorts of evil deeds in order that humanity continues seeking God is a way of feeding on Satan. If Satan ceases to exist then no more tortures, consequently all these apostles of evil who rip off gullible Nigerians will go bankrupt and finally close shops; oh I mean churches. Have a great day. You see, God feeds on Satan. When Satan vanishes, God will die of hunger.
My dear friend you must be aware of the word, choice. Who is responsible for the choices you make? Satan? You? Stop blaming Satan for anything blame yourself. People listen to what they want, and get fed what they want.
This is bad news.
This is one side story. I would prefer to hear the side of the Militants too .
We will review and take appropriate action.