Don’t plunge Nigeria into civil war – ACF warns Avengers

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday warned that the destruction of oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers was an invitation to another civil war, The Nation reports. It also warned the militant group to desist from its “madness” of blowing up oil pipelines. The Forum is of the view that the country cannot afford another war at this time.

In a phone chat with the newspaper yesterday, ACF Chairman and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, said the Avengers continuous attacks on the nation’s oil installations were unjustifiable, because necessary machinery to develop the region has been put in place by the Federal Government.

Coomassie said: “There is the Ministry of Niger-Delta. They have Niger Delta Development Commission and they have amnesty intervention and money was being passed through all these agencies.

“So why didn’t they develop their areas? Why are they asking for more? They were in government and certain projects were diverted there, including the fund for the dredging of River Niger. What else do they want?

“Why didn’t they do all these during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration? So, I believe they are doing it deliberately.

“Look at Biafra too. Are they doing it to make the country difficult for this government to rule?

“Now that they are even refusing dialogue, do they want confrontation? There has been confrontation in this country before. Do we want a repeat?

“We have had one before and I believe no country can afford a civil war twice.

“So, Niger-Delta Avengers should give peace a chance. If they want a particular thing, they should come out and mention it, then Federal Government will consider it on its own merit.

“They should stop calling for another war.”