Apochi Suleiman, a Naval Rear Admiral and the new Commander deployed to take charge of the military operation in the Niger Delta codenamed “Operation Delta Safe” has said that he would introduce new strategies in order to better protect Nigeria’s oil facilities from militants.
Suleiman, made the remarks during an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayels State on Saturday.
He maintained that the major duty of the military in the Niger Delta was to protect oil and gas facilities as well as to curb criminality.
According to him, the new strategies he introduced to strengthen the joint military operations against renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region were already yielding results.
The military commander said: “In my short time of assumption of duty on November 16, 2016, I have tried to sustain and improve on the pace which has yielded some successes.
“Just a few days ago on Wednesday troops in Cross River encountered militants in a gun duel around Ikang axis and arrested one of the militants and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition.”
Suleiman commended the efforts of his predecessor Joseph Okojie, and assured that the experiences he had gathered during his time as Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, at the Central Naval Command in Yenagoa would ne brought to bear in this new assignment.
He warned that Operation Delta Safe under his command would not condone unprovoked attacks on the military by communities under its area of responsibility.
“The last attack on the military men on duty killing some in cold blood is regrettable and condemnable and when our men went after their killers there was public outcry,” Suleiman said.
“This is a note of warning that any community that attacks our soldiers should be ready for the consequences, we shall not tolerate any community that habours criminals, we are not here to invade any community, but we are after criminals.
“Any community that habours criminals has lost its immunity, any further unprovoked attack shall be resisted with every resource at our disposal and we shall remain within our mandate,” he warned.