Mkpoikana Udoma 09 November 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Nigerian Air Force has advised militants in the Niger Delta to stop pipeline vandalism and destruction of oil installations, and embrace peace.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, stated this in Port Harcourt while commissioning new blocks of airmen quarters at the 97 Special Operations Group of NAF in Rivers State.
Abubakar said the Niger Delta problem have caused environmental pollution and economic damage to the nation’s economy requires a comprehensive solution.
He further said NAF placed priority to the training of Air Force personnel, adding that it had groomed over 700 professional in the last one year.
“I started my career in Port Harcourt in way back 1983. They (Niger Delta militants) are not only destroying the economy, they are destroying the beauty of the environment.
“Our message to them is that they should embrace and dialogue with the Federal Government. On our part, we will continue to discharge our constitutional responsibility. We are not unaware of our responsibility. We are doing everything possible to protect Nigerians.
“We will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and ensure peace. The constitution has given us mandate to protect our people. Let them embrace peace; but, if they fail to do that, we have a constitutional responsibility to protect lives”, he declared.