Wike backs military operations against militants

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, says nobody will be shielded from the military operations against militants.

He was speaking on Monday when he received the military high command in his office ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari-ordered crackdown on the militants who are attacking pipelines.

Wike said: “As a government, we cannot support economic sabotage. What is going on is economic sabotage. Production is being negatively affected, with the revenue of states dwindling.

“There are ways to channel grievances and it is wrong to do what will negatively affect the people of the region.”

He assured the military high command that the people of Rivers state will support efforts to secure the area.

Wike said all Niger Delta governors oppose the use of violence to settle grievances.

The governors are billed to meet with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on June 7 to discuss the security situation in the region, he said.

In the military team were Abayomi Olonisakin, a general and chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, lt. general and chief of army staff; Ibok Ibas, vice admiral and chief of naval staff; an Sadiq Abubakar, air marshal and chief of air staff.

Olonisakin said the resurgence in militancy in the Niger Delta is of serious concern to the military.