Following resumed hostilities in the oil rich Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Army has declared its readiness to halt the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND.
The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Attahiru, told PUNCH that the current strength of the military Joint Task Force operating in the region was sufficient to contain the group’s violent activities.
“Without doubt, the strength of the JTF in the Niger Delta is enough to deal with them. So, the issue of deployment of troops in the area does not arise. We are absolutely ready for MEND or any other group that might want to resume disturbance in the Niger Delta. The army will not tolerate such attacks on Nigerians,” he said.
The army, according to Attahiru had already carried out a threat analysis in view of the resumed hostilities and he is certain the army can contain whatever threats arise in the region.
“In situations like these, threat analysis is usually carried out. So, we know what threats we are faced with and we know that the JTF can handle the threats. There is no deployment in the area.”
12 policemen were recently killed in a boat that was ambushed in Azuzama, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, and MEND had claimed responsibility for it while they promised more attacks.
The militant group had earlier announced that it would resume attacks in the oil rich Niger Delta to avenge alleged collaboration between Nigerian Government and South Africa to jail its former leader, Henry Okah as the group alleged the Federal Government presented fake documents that nailed the group’s former leader.
Although security agencies in the country has dismissed any threats posed by MEND, the group has advised oil firms and members of the public to disregard the “false sense of security being peddled by the JTF.”
