Pipelines Bombing: CEPEJ Caution Against Using Military Might

THE Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has advised the federal government to tread softly on the renewed attacks on pipelines in the creeks of Delta state by suspected militants, so as not to stoke up embers of fresh crisis in the oil rich Niger Delta region.

 

The advice is coming against the backdrop of plan by the federal government to send the military to attack riverine communities hosting oil facilities which have already heightened tension resulting in people leaving their communities in drove.

 

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, the group advised the military against going out of its rule of engagement in her hunt for the masterminds of the attacks on the oil pipelines.

 

The group, however, advised the government to adopt a more careful and diplomatic approach as well as using intelligence mechanism to fish out the perpetrators as attacking the communities would tantamount to breaching their fundamental human rights.

 

It reminded the government of the on-going terrorism war against insurgents in the North East part of Nigeria which has left devastating effect, stating that the government should do everything within its power to avert a fresh crisis in the oil rich region, which it added could spell a doom for the nation given the slump in oil revenue.

 

CEPEJ reiterated that ‘’Nigeria is a mono-economy as such the government should be cautious not to create tension in the region because anything that affects oil production at this time  would worsen the dire economic situation  and the brunt would be borne more by the poor in our midst’’.

 

While condemning the attacks by the vandals in strongest terms, the NGO called for adequate measures to be put in place to check their nefarious activities and advised community leaders, youth groups to avoid any temptation to be enticed into these unwholesome activities.