President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to help him beg the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups in the region to shealth their sword.
The militants, particularly the NDA, have in the past months destroyed oil installations in the oil-rich region.
While lamenting the effect of the attacks on oil facilities, Buhari said the country does not need such a distraction at this point in time.
He said the militants, who operate with sophisticated equipment, are difficult to relate with because they are in several groups unlike the Boko Haram sect which has one faction.
Buhari stated this on Friday, June 24, at the breaking of fast dinner with the APC leadership at the presidential villa in Abuja.
“I honestly don’t know how many factions the militants are in the Niger Delta compared to the north-east where you have the Boko Haram,” he said.
“The technology being deployed by the militants to destroy oil installations is high-tech, the way they can go on high sea and international waters and target oil installations is a national problem. It is affecting development.
“No insurance company will want to insure installations that will end up being blown up and no banks will want to finance such installations.
“Those of you who have friends among the leadership or even the militants themselves should plead with them in the name of God Almighty to take it easy.
“We are in a very difficult time, so we have to organise ourselves. Anybody that says he has any other country than Nigeria should go out and see.”
He also lauded the successful APC primary election in Edo State, saying the polls gave him “a new hope.”
He added that close attention would be paid to Ondo State, which is next in line.