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Militants - Military Begins Full-Scale Onslaught


This Day (Lagos)


NEWS
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008

By Segun James
Yenagoa

The Federal Government yesterday ordered military formations in the Niger Delta
region to begin an offensive against all known militants and their hideouts.

The order was passed to all the formations, via a signal signed by General Owei
Andrew Azazi.



Azazi asked all military formations located in the region to prepare for full
scale battle, and warned against allowing the militias to overrun their
formations.

He said the order became necessary, in view of the rising activities of
militants and the threats to invade some states after the New Year horror
visited on Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Commander of the 73 battalion of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Colonel Christopher
Musa, who disclosed government's position, said they have been told that in the
event of any invasion by militants, military formations should counter attack
and ensure maximum causality on the side of the invaders.

Musa said the directive was received and all the formations are now at alert to
counter any threat to lives and property.

Musa said the directive may have followed threats from Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and Okrika warlord, Ateke Tom, to embark
on a full scale war with the Federal Government.


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