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We will not shield any militant, says Rivers governor, Wike

By Ann Godwin and Julius Osahon
24 May 2016   |   3:28 am
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday said that nobody would be shielded from the military operations against militants sabotaging the nation’s economy.

militant

Ex-militants warn politicians against sabotaging amnesty programme

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday said that nobody would be shielded from the military operations against militants sabotaging the nation’s economy.

Wike, who spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to the country’s Military High Command led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, said that all Niger Delta governors oppose the use of violence to settle grievances, pointing out that the governors are billed to meet with the Vice President on June 7, 2016 to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the region.

He said: “What’s happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region.

“As a government, we cannot support economic sabotage. What is going on is economic sabotage. Production is being negatively affected with the revenue of states dwindling.

“There are ways to channel grievances and it is wrong to do what will negatively affect the people of the region.”

Earlier, Gen. Olonisakin said the recent resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta was of serious concern to the military.

“Recent activities of the militants have led to the sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure”, he said.

He said economy of the nation is threatened by the resurgent of militancy, hence the need to stop the insecurity in the region.

Gen. Olonisakin, therefore, urged the Rivers State governor to reach out to his colleagues in the Niger Delta to resolve the conflicts in the area.

He said that the Military High Command was in the region to interface with the leadership of the Operation Pulio Shield and other service commanders on how to put an end to criminality in the region and protect the nation’s economy from total collapse.

In another development, former Niger Delta militant generals have sent a stern warning to politicians who are in the habit of causing unnecessary tension and distractions in the implementation of the amnesty programme to desist from it.

The National President, Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), Reuben Wilson, in a statement yesterday, urged the Niger Delta people, particularly the elders and youths, to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Boroh in their task of implementing the programme.

He, however, said they earnestly awaited the total implementation of the amnesty package.

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