Army rules out dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers

The Nigerian Army has ruled out the possibility of engaging new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, in dialogue.

The Army, stated this while justifying its recent operations in Gbaramatu, Delta State, adding that the use of force was for now the only available option until leaders of the militant group were apprehended.

A representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Brig.-Gen. J. Hamakim, said this at the ‘State of the Nation Conference’, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Army had been accused during the conference of  failing to explore dialogue with the Niger Delta militants and resorting to use of force which could lead to a war situation in the region and attacking members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who were allegedly demonstrating peacefully in Onitsha, Anambra State on Monday.

However, while responding, Hamakim said there was no sign that the Niger Delta Avengers’ members were ready for dialogue.

Read also: Avengers challenge Nigerian Army to battle

He said: “I quite agree that dialogue is very important. But where ‎it is not too obvious that the adversary is ready to come out and talk, you can also force such a person.

“I think that is what the Nigeria Army is trying to do. Yes, we don’t know the group’s leader, for now;  that is the only option, possibly we have to bring the people out to know who you can dialogue with.”

According to him, the activities of the group were affecting Nigerians as the nation’s oil production had recently further plummeted t‎o 1.1 million barrels per day.

Hamakim however denied that soldiers, who were involved in the operations in Gbaramatu, were killing innocent residents and raping women.

“We have done our investigation and nothing like that is happening,” he said.

On the IPOB demonstration that led to a clash between the protesters and security forces leading to the death of two policemen and 30 others in Onitsha, Anambra State on Monday, Hamakim said the protesters were not peaceful.

‎“Remember that lives were lost, policemen were killed, some were thrown overboard‎ and the military has rules of engagement.

“The question is how peaceful is the peaceful demonstration‎. How peaceful was the demonstration at that time? If it was that peaceful, how come we lost security agents?

“The rule of engagement is that if you feel threatened, you have the mandate to respond. What we can say is that was not at all a demonstration that you can say was peaceful‎.”