N/Delta militancy: Buhari meets service chiefs, group

Isiaka Wakili

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the service chiefs and heads of security agencies to review military operations in the Niger Delta region.

He also at a meeting with a delegation of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group led by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, said he wanted as much intelligence report as possible on the crisis in the Niger Delta.

The meeting with security chiefs which was held inside the president's office lasted about four hours with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Minister of Defence retired BrigadierGeneral Mansur Dan Ali in attendance.

The service chiefs present at the meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The meeting was also attended by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, the DirectorGeneral, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, none of whom spoke to newsmen after the meeting. But it was gathered that the meeting also reviewed counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.

Receiving the Niger Delta group, Buhari said: "I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all".

The president sympathised with investors who, he said, borrowed money to invest in the region but had not recouped their investments due to insecurity.

He reiterated his appeal to those perpetrating violence in the region to embrace peace and give government a chance.

Assuring that his administration would rebuild Nigeria, including the Niger Delta region, the president solicited patience and understanding from the citizenry.

Earlier, King Alfred Diette-Spiff had said his group was made of peace builders dedicated to peace and stability in the region.