For the umpteenth time, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has restated the determination of the Military, to deal with “economic saboteurs” in the Niger Delta, as it vowed never to abdicate its constitutional mandate of containing threats to security, in whatever guise.
There has been an upsurge of militant activities in the Niger Delta region, with the blowing-up of oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)
However, the DHQ, in s statement by its spokesman, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, vowed to deal with the situation.
The DHQ also alerted the public to what it described as “campaign of calumny” against an ongoing operation in some riverine communities, vowing never to be distracted.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to emphasise that the Nigerian Armed Forces will not relent in their efforts to flush out economic saboteurs masquerading under whatever guise to perpetuate evils in the Niger Delta. As part of the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces, the military will not jettison the confidence reposed in it by the good citizens of our great nation in ensuring that peace and security prevail in our land.
“The military is not unmindful of the campaign of calumny against our soldiers by paid agents claiming that soldiers are harassing members of the public while performing their constitutional responsibility. It is pertinent to state that it is the same group of people that are wreaking havoc on the critical national assets that are blackmailing the Armed Forces and other security agencies to divert attention.
“The military and other security agencies will continue to discharge their lawful duties in the Niger Delta and any other part of the country in a most professional manner devoid of the claim by the criminal elements of harassment, intimidation and arrest. Our job is to secure infrastructural facilities and property of innocent citizens as well as containing the activities of criminal,” the statement said.
