‘Militants bombing pipelines are not ordinary Nigerians,’ President says

monjola sotubo

November 30, 2016 2:06 PM

Buhari made the comment on Tuesday after being named the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE).

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the militants who bomb pipelines in the

Buhari made the comment on Tuesday, November 29, after being named the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) at the Presidential Villa.

“If I will go in the negative side, ‎how can an ordinary Nigerian go into the sea, 70 kilometres or more, go down two meters and blow up oil installations that cannot be an ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

“So, I hope you will appeal to your colleagues to make sure that what we have built, they should regard it whether they are working with multi-nationals or the government,” he added.

Buhari earlier begged Niger Delta militants to stop bombing pipelines in the restive region.

“I appeal to the people of the Niger Delta region to embrace peace and focus on agriculture for sustainable economic development and wealth creation,” the president said.

“I urge you to take advantage of the huge potential in agriculture and stop the destruction of oil and gas pipelines, which only serve to destroy our ecosystem and economy,” he added.

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The government earlier entered into negotiations with the militants in a bid to ensure peace in the region but the talks failed after the militants accused the government of insincerity.

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