The Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, disclosed that the use of force is the only way to arrest the raising spate of violence in the Niger Delta region, saying that the militants are not ready to dialogue but “you can force them” into doing so.

This was made known by Brig.Gen. J. Hamakim, who represented the
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the ‘State of the Nation Conference’, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja.

He said, “I quite agree that dialogue is very important. But where it is not too obvious that the adversary is ready to come out and talk, you can also force such a person.”

“I think that is what the Nigerian Army is trying to do. Yes, we don’t know the group’s leader, for now; that is the only option, possibly we have to bring the people out to know who you can talk with.”

the army official noted that the activities of the militants have cut down Nigeria’s oil production from 2.2 million barrels per day to 1.1 million

He, however, denied that army was involved in operations in Gbaramatu where soldiers allegedly killed innocent citizens and raped women.

“We have done our investigation and nothing like that is happening,” he said.

Speaking on the clash between pro-Biafra protesters and security agencies, Hamakim said that:“Remember that lives were lost; policemen were killed; some were thrown overboard and the military has rules of engagement.

“The rule of engagement is that if you feel threatened, you have the mandate to respond. What we can say is that that was not at all a demonstration that you can say was peaceful.”

Also present at the event were theInspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Controller General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’afaru; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, were represented by officers of their agencies at the event.

The NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh; Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasiru Ajanah; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, Mr. Babajide Akinloye; two contenders for the office of the NBA presidency, Messrs Abubakar Mahmud and Joe Kyari-Gadzama, among many other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, were in attendance.