Following the threat by Niger Delta militants to bomb strategic buildings in Abuja, acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday met with governors of oil producing states and service chiefs at the presidential villa, Abuja.

At the meeting, the government adopted a new strategy to the operations in the region, with troops shifting from the communities.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, disclosed that the meeting resolved to have the ongoing military operations in the region distilled, while the communities would be engaged.

He said: “We have agreed that there is a need to distil military operations directly in communities, but the military needs to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways while we engage the communities, and that engagement process is starting any moment from now.”

Okowa also disclosed that the security chiefs briefed them on the situation in the region while the governors also shared their perspectives, adding that they agreed on intelligence sharing on the situation going forward.

“I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.  One thing we identified, the synergy between the federal government and the states is very important, and this meeting has raised a lot of issues, and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

“Of course, we were briefed by the service chiefs, and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state petroleum.

“We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta. We believe we are going to find solution to it.

“One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence, which is very important for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward,” the governor said.

Governors who attended the meeting were Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo).

The service chiefs in attendance were General Gabriel Olonishaki (Chief of Defence Staff), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff) and Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff).

Also in attendance were the minister of defence, Mansur Dan Ali; the minister of state, Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru.

LEADERSHIP recalls that, on Monday, a new militant group, Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), had threatened to bomb the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Defence Headquarters, and the National Assembly among other strategic government facilities, especially in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna.

Prior to the emergence of the new group last week, the Niger Delta Avengers had been engaged in serial bomb attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta region.

The meeting was also believed to have focused on the way forward in resolving the knotty issue of the current agitation by militant groups in the region.

President Muhammadu Buhari had vowed in his Democracy Day speech last week that the militant groups whose activities were disrupting oil production would be brought to book.

But the federal government recanted on Monday when Osinbajo announced a ceasefire to allow for meaningful engagement with leaders of the oil producing communities.

Also speaking after the meeting, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, emphasised the need for government to sustain the amnesty programme so that skills acquired in the training could be effectively utilized.

He also advised Nigerians to resolve any differences amicably rather than take up arms.

He said: “Nigeria is not at war and we cannot be at war with ourselves. If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced.

“I think that, in all of these, the whole idea is to find peace that is functional, that creates environment for very decent Nigerians to live their lives.”

US decries violence

The United States Mission to Nigeria has expressed worry over the recent activities and threats by the Niger Delta Avengers.

According to a statement from the Embassy in Abuja, it said the U.S. Mission to Nigeria was monitoring reports of attacks and other incidents in the Niger Delta, and shares the concerns of all Nigerians about these attacks.

Furthermore, the United States said it remains supportive of efforts, including the promotion of dialogue, to address grievances in the Niger Delta.

“We encourage all parties to resolve their disputes through peaceful means and emphasize that human rights of all Nigerians must be protected,” it said.

The United States however called on all Nigerians to persevere in efforts to achieve common goals of ending violence and curbing the activities of criminal elements.

Root cause of Boko Haram will be addressed – AGF

The federal government yesterday said it would unravel the root cause of insurgency in the country very soon.

The federal government, through the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, said a judicial commission of inquiry may soon be put together to investigate how insurgency found its way into the country.

He made this comment while addressing aggrieved lawyers in the country who had engaged in a protest march to his office to decry the menace of Boko Haram to his office.

About 100 lawyers under the umbrella body of Lawyers United for Equality and Human Rights Advocacy protested to the office of the AGF to demand the investigation and prosecution of persons found to have been sponsoring insurgency in the country.

The director in charge of general services in the ministry, Mrs. Lola Uket, who represented the minister to receive the protesters, assured them that the minister will act quickly on their demands.

“You have made your demands and I am sure the minister will act and act very fast to meet your demands. All of them will be addressed. I believe you gave a timeframe in your demand and I am sure they will all be met. Your demands have not been met before now, not because of negligence on the part of the minister but because of certain circumstances. Let us be patient with them because they are also learned men like you. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt that something will be done”, she said.

The lawyers in their position paper asked the minister to ensure the investigation and prosecution of sponsors of Boko Haram and to ensure their prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC).