The Federal Government on Sunday warned militants in the Niger Delta region against further attacks on troops in the region. The government explained that the soldiers were not deployed in the area to fight a war, but to protect lives and the nation�s economic assets.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Rowland Oritsejafor, who met with elders and youth leaders of the oil-producing communities in the region in Warri, on Sunday asked the militants to embrace peace to pave the way for unfettered exploration and exploration of oil.
He also cautioned the militants not to disrupt planned resumption of oil operation by multinationals at their facilities shut down during the recent crisis in the oil industry in the region.
The government asked the militants to ensure that the multinationals gain unhindered access to their facilities to enable them carry out repairs on the damaged equipment.
Oritsejafor while addressing the people of the oil bearing communities at his Warri residence, asked the militants to create an enabling environment for fleeing oil workers to return to their locations.
He said, �We are asking the stakeholders in the creeks that they should not attack our men, they should embrace dialogue and allow them (troops) to create that atmosphere for repairs to take place.
�They (troops) are Nigerians like them (militants), some of them are from Niger Delta, they are doing their duties, their professional duties, they are not enemies at all.�