It was gathered from a top -placed security source in the presidency , who confided in the Saturday Telegraph, that if it was not for the intervention of the US government, the story would have been a different one.Though the militants had threatened to carry out their “threat to assassinate the president , if he had embarked on the trip, ” Saturday Telegraph gathered that the reports from the U.S, which advised him against the proposed visit to Ogoniland , actually aborted the trip.
The NDA had threatened to attack Buhari , who was to flag off the cleaning of Ogoniland but changed his plans at the last minute by sending his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to represent him at the event.
When queried on the supposed superiority of the militants’ weapons to that of the president ’s security apparatus , the source said, though Buhari might have escaped unhurt, there would still have been many casualties due to the exchange of firepower . “It was actually the US government that said we should not go there and we later realised that it was a good advice.
They made us to understand that from their intelligence report, those guys were going to act as planned. Even the DSS agreed with them that we should not go. When the matter was tabled, and we were confronted with evidences , we all realised that those guys were not joking at all. “It is not that they will over power the presidential guard , no , far from it, the security of any president is not a child’s play . It is just that those militants would have wanted to make a point and there would have been serious casualties.
When our correspondent probed further on the veracity of the claim, and sought to know how the intelligence report was relayed to Buhari , he simply said there were normal channels of communication between both countries. “There are ways the two countries share intelligence reports . The security people frequently exchange such reports and there is a way they go about it.
On our side , we know when they are telling the truth, this is one of such times . “You know there are times we don ’t take them serious but when you see facts that are incontrovertible , it is better to heed than regret later ,” he said.
Avengers give condition for ceasefire Giving the Federal Government a condition to cease hostilities , the militants wrote: “we are calling on the international community , to come and support the restoration of our right to peaceful self determination from this tragedy of 1914 that has expired since 2014 . “ We want our resources back to restore the essence of human life in our region for generations to come because Nigeria has failed to do that . The world should not wait until we go the Sudan ways . Enough is enough . ”
UK pledges job creation , economic growth in N ’ Delta
The United Kingdom has indicated its preparedness to enhance security in the Niger Delta through job creation and tackling environmental pollution . The country also pledged to seek ways of boosting the economy of the Niger Delta region . The British High Commissioner to Nigeria , Mr . Paul Arkwright , gave the indication during a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Governor , Henry Seriake Dickson in Government House, Yenagoa . He was accompanied by Mr . Edward Dunn, Political Secretary , Niger Delta and Mr . Osaro Odemwingie, Senior Political Adviser of the High Commission.
A statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor , Mr . Daniel Iworiso- Markson , quoted the envoy as saying his visit to Bayelsa State was part of efforts to explore the Niger Delta, with a view to understanding the challenges facing the people . Arkwright said: “ Part of my job is to try to encourage British companies to come and invest in Nigeria , the Niger Delta region and indeed in Bayelsa State and help create jobs and employment opportunities to see what we can do on the security front in broad terms .
Ijaw communities beg Niger Delta Avengers for ceasefire
Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu kingdom , Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday appealed to the NDA to accept the Federal Government ’ s ceasefire and stop the attacks on oil facilities . The appeal is coming on the heels of renewed hostilities by the militants despite the Federal Government ’ s readiness to hold talks with the people of the region .
The spokesperson for the communities and Chairman of Kokodiagbene community , Mr . Sheriff Mulade , said the communities were the ones bearing the brunt of the incessant attacks as they were already making lives unbearable for the people.
He said: “Our position is that the continued bombings of the region in view of the ceasefire arrangement are highly condemnable. They are technically crippling the economy to enable them to get what they want . So, they should not personalise their Niger Delta demands .
Militants ask FG to reclaim Bakassi
Over 600 militants yesterday asked the Federal Government to reclaim the ceded Bakassi Peninsular from Cameroon . The armed group , referred to as Bakassi Strike Force, said apart from not being carried along before, during and after the ceding process , the indigenes of Bakassi have been neglected by the Federal Government and other local and international stakeholders .
The militants, also known as Esighi group , had a onehour boat display with heavy weapons around Esighi axis of Bakassi, before proceeding to Esuk – Mba . In a display to show its combat readiness , the group brandished weapons such as sophisticated gun boats , Browning machine gun , rocket launchers, among others.