War against Niger Delta militants: UK warns President Buhari

– British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address grievances in Niger Delta region where militants have been blowing up oil pipelines

– He warned the president that a military confrontation could end in “disaster” adding that the government should deal with the root causes

– According Hammond, Buhari has got to show as a president from the north that he is not ignoring the Delta

British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond has said that President Muhammadu Buhari needs urgently to address grievances in Niger Delta region where militants have been blowing up oil pipelines.

Vanguard reports that a senior British official spoke about Nigeria’s “major concern” on Sunday, May 15, on the sidelines of a regional security conference in Abuja.

The swamps of the southern Delta have been recently hit by a series of attacks on pipelines and other oil and gas facilities by a new group of militants.

As a result, Nigeria’s output has been reduced by 300,000 barrels a day, a major export port and two refineries have been closed.

The Nigerian army has declared a massive war against the militants and stressed that it would not hesitate to deploy every available resources to deal decisively with any threats to economic lifeline of the nation.

READ ALSO: Trouble in Niger Delta: NSCDC kill three militants following deadly gun battle

However, Hammond warned President Buhari that a military confrontation could end in “disaster” adding that the government should deal with the root causes.

“It’s obviously a major concern. The idea that your answer is by moving big chunks of the Nigerian army to the Delta simply doesn’t work,” he said.

The minister added that the army did not have the capacity while fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the north.

“Buhari has got to show as a president from the north that he is not ignoring the Delta, that he is engaging with the challenges in the Delta,” he said.

It would be noted that President Buhari has not visited the Christian Delta since taking office a year ago.

READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan created Niger Delta Avengers? Read what Ijaw youths are saying

The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has claimed responsibility for the attacks on pipelines, has recently warned oil firms to leave the region within two weeks.

Stressing that it was fighting for independence for the Delta, the group also demanded a greater share of oil revenues and an end to oil pollution.

Meanwhile, the army has arrested five suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers following the bombing of Chevron pipeline in Warri South-West local government area of Delta state.

According to army sources, the suspected persons were transported to the military facility just as fierce-looking soldiers raided Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom  in search of militants bombing pipelines in the state.

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