The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has warned militants that the Nigerian Army is ready to use force should the dialogue between it and the Federal Government end in a deadlock.
The COAS, while issuing the warning also urged the Niger Delta militants to embrace peace, agree with the Federal Government and desist from violent acts.
Buratai made the call while in Port Harcourt on Monday at the commissioning of a modern 2 Brigade headquarter complex with an Olympic size swimming pool.
Buratai during the commissioning further said that the use of force has always been the first action before dialogue, he therefore urged the militants in the oil rich Niger Delta region to embrace the opportunity presented by the Government in order to put an end to their grievances and reach an amicable agreement.
“Government is still committed to dialogue and whereby this cannot go on – then there could be resort to other means. The non-kinetic (force) means has always been the source first before government can recourse to the kinetic means”.
He added: “So, there is need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government”.