BREAKING NEWS: FG ORDERS IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM NIGER DELTA

The Nigerian Government has ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the country’s oil rich Niger Delta region.

The government had sent soldiers to the region in response to barrage of attacks carried out by a militant group on pipelines in the region.

The group known as the Niger Delta Avengers had vowed to cripple the Nigerian economy by bringing the oil production of the country to zero unless its demands are met.

The Avengers, who say they are fighting for a greater share of oil profits, an end to pollution and independence for the southern region, have told oil firms to leave the Delta before the end of the month.

Crude oil sales from the Delta account for 70 percent of national income in Africa’s biggest economy but residents, some of whom sympathise with the militants, have long complained of poverty.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu had on Monday also announced that the government had set up a committee to negotiate with the militant group.

The government has now followed up that decision by withdrawing troops in the region.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors from states in the Niger Delta region, some ministers and service chiefs.

The government said it was withdrawing troops immediately but soldiers will continue to patrol the waterways.

Share this

Anonymous