Ex-Police boss urges Niger Delta militants to embrace dialogue

The chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief

Okiro made the appeal in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Supreme Ibitomi, on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, dialogue remains the only panacea for lasting resolution of the issues at stake and for sake of corporate existence of the nation.

He reminded the militants that their activities would hurt the interest of the region, adding the destruction of oil pipeline would leave serious effects on the already devastated ecosystem of the region.

``The activities of the militants is not only hurting Nigerians, but the real impact is wrecking havoc on Niger Deltans the more,’’ he said.

``It is instructive to remember that oil is deplete-able resource.

``The best option for the region is to use the present window of opportunity to re-negotiate a holistic template to provide the needed critical infrastructure to realistically develop the region in view of the looming post oil era,’’ Okiro said.

He said the Federal Government had demonstrated commitment to address some of the major problems of the region with the launching of the Ogoniland clean-up.

Okiro said with such commitment, there was the need to seek for a peaceful resolution of all grievances and urged the militants to sheath their sword and embrace dialogue.