Octopus Grip: Do you support Nigerian Navy’s operation in Niger Delta?

No, I do not support it because no amount of military drill, siege or invasion even if it amounts to genocide can bring peace to the Niger Delta. They can only help to escalate it which may destroy the entire country. The only solution for peace in the region is development and an equity participation of the people in the management of the petroleum resources.

 

 

 

 

No, all these security agencies come up with different names, all in the name to fight crime. I feel the military should consider itself as a peace ambassador and participate in the on-going peace process. The Federal Government can’t demand for peace in an atmosphere of aggression, subjugation, annihilation and annexation of the people’s rights to life through the so-called military drills. I am afraid if these continue, there might not be peace in the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is absolutely nonsense in a country where we have a government.This shows that our government is not capable enough to handle the affairs of the country.President Buhari should call the military to order. What they are doing in the Niger Delta is an invitation to anarchy. There is nowhere in the world, this practice should be celebrated where military destroys peaceful and law-abiding communities with some flimsy and irresponsible excuses. It is a common belief that war begets war and it does no good to mankind.

 

 

 

 

 

This should have not been thought of in the first place.Nigerians should rather think of how we can unite ourselves other than cause friction amongst us which will lead to disaster in the community. The Navy should stop its aggressive Operation Octopus Grip. Many riverine communities have deserted their homes already for fear of invasion like what the army has done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The military drill, code named: “Operation Octopus Grip” declared by the Nigerian Navy in the region where it deployed several warships and armoured gunboats to the creeks is tantamount to a declaration of war against peaceful and law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. The injury the Nigerian army’s version of the military drill has inflicted on the Ijaw people through its quarrelsome Operation Crocodile Smile has given the people of the region eternal scare of war where they live in fear in their own community.This is really worrisome and should be stopped by the government.

 

 

 

 

I have done my research and made some enquiry from people of the Niger Delta, if any changes have been done by our security men in the region. According to them, nothing good has been said about them, so what is the need for this? The army has achieved no success in its recent parade in the Niger Delta otherwise known as Operation Crocodile Smile other than committing war crimes against the Ajakurama people. It only succeeded in using Ijaw people to test the mighty of its newly acquired weaponry. I feel what should be done is the security of the people’s lives and not about bringing up different names all to make us know they are working and which we all know they are not carrying out their task.

 

 

 

 

There is no gain whatsoever to the people from the so-called military drills. With the deployments of warships and armoured gunboats to the creeks of Niger Delta at a time the Government is consolidating on the peace we are enjoying in the region shows that the military is looking for ways to cause another crisis in the oil industry.We are forced to believe that some persons are benefiting from the crisis in the Niger Delta and as such they don’t want it to end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most unfortunate thing with the Nigerian military is that they believe in showing their military might more on the citizenrybecause theydon’t have value for the lives of the people. Hence, they have this belief within them,that their salaries are not sourced by the tax payers but from crude oil. The Nigerian military are using the privilege of disunity planted among the different ethnic groups by politicians to assume they have more power on people. I believe they can never be stronger than all Nigerians. If we all unite for one cause, then I feel there will be no need for military to continue to allow themselves to be used by our political leaders to silence the voice of oppressed Nigerians through brutality, torture andextrajudicial killings.

 

 

 

I feel there is no need for that in the Niger Delta.All the money used in such meaningless and illicit adventures which we know will only end up in private pockets should be channelled to the developmental projects in the region. When the youths are engaged doing something meaningful with their lives, there will be no room to involve themselves in vandalizing pipelines and other atrocities.

Godday Akpokeya

Cross River

 

 

 

All these operations of different names are all used to harm people.What I know military men for is to protect the country in which they serve and not harming innocent citizens but our Nigerian military is the worse in the world. In other countries, military men are trained to fight enemies from another country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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