Buhari acquiring drones to fight us yet lying about dialogue – Militants

Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of hypocrisy, saying he (Buhari) was acquiring drones to fight the group and lying about dialogue with Niger Delta militants.

Spokesman of the group, Brig. Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, said information available at its disposal had it that the Federal Government has been acquiring drones which it intends to use to fight the group.

Agbinibo described the peace talks initiated by the government as a delay tactics pending the arrival of the drones.

He said the plan of the current administration would not work, adding that the government should focus on oil exploration in the north because very soon “one litre of crude” would not be lifted from the Niger Delta.

“The intelligence agency gathered that the said peace talk or dialogue by the Federal Government is a delay tactics employed by the Federal Government to enable their purchased drones arrive from the United States latest by the end of August.

“This whole thing makes us to wonder what kind of country is this. We can all see that President Buhari-led government is fraudulent. They are not serious about any dialogue but make it seem that the Niger Delta Avengers are the ones not ready for dialogue.

“Mr. President you can purchase all the drones in Europe and Untied States but it won’t stop the Niger Delta Avengers from bringing the country’s economy to zero.

“The worse you can do is to kill poor innocent people, the military is good at that, but know the Nigerian economy will suffer. Also note that you will not be able to export one litre of crude in the Niger Delta. Just intensify the oil exploration in the north-east. As for the ones in the Niger Delta, forget about it because the Nigeria government won’t export a drop from our land,” Agbinibo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has said the military under his command will from this weekend launch ‘Operation Ex Crocodile Smile’ to practice Special Forces Troops in Amphibious and IS operations in riverine areas in South South states of the country.

This, he said, will checkmate criminal activities like kidnapping, militancy, piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority.

Buratai disclosed this on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of three Day Combat Support Arms Training Week (COSAT) which took place at Maimalari Cantonment, 7 Division, Nigeria Army in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said the role of the ‘NA Combat Support Arms’ with the theme “Countering Asymmetric Warfare in the 21st century” is in line with his vision to have a very professionally responsive Nigerian Army in then discharge of its constitutional roles.

He noted that the current operations being undertaken by troops in the country and especially in the north east has brought up several challenges, stressing that efforts are been put in place to confront these challenges.

He however said the Nigerian Army will not rest in its oars until it ride out criminals and terrorism act in the society.

Buratai also took time and visited the residence of Late Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, who passed away last three weeks and condoled with the bereaved family before he visited the place of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-kanemi and condoled him over the demise of Dr. Monguno and another elder statesman, Alhaji Garba Satomi who equally died last two weeks ago in Maiduguri.

Responding, the Shehu of Borno thanked Buratai for the visit, and expressed satisfaction with effort military in the fight against insurgents in the region.