Buhari orders military intervention in the restive Niger Delta region

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a heightened military presence in the restive Niger Delta region to deal with a resurgence of attacks on oil and gas facilities, a day after yet another pipeline explosion.

“We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy,” Buhari said in a statement.

“I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region,” he added.

The rise in attacks in the region in the last few weeks has driven Nigerian oil output to its lowest in 20 years affecting public finances.

A group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for several sophisticated attacks.

President Buhari urged the militants in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with his government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Late ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Administration.

President Buhari assured oil companies operating in the region that the Federal Government is taking all necessary actions to protect strategic assets in the region from vandals and criminals.

ITS FRIDAY'S EVENING EXPERIENCE ON #LETSTALK WITH #FEMIDLIVE femidlive , AZUKA zukiberry & ERNEST ernesttimo... https://t.co/ZUvrVqpQJk

— NigeriaInfoAbuja (NigeriaInfoAbj) May 20, 2016

Reuters