Members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and other militant groups in the region have consistently threatened to match force with force against military onslaught in the region.

Their threats came against the backdrop of the directive to the military by President Umaru Yar‘Adua to fish out those behind the Bonga oil facilities which MEND had claimed responsibility.

The fire power demonstration, which showcased the country‘s military hardware, was designed to send a strong message to the militants in the Niger Delta region.

The Army Public Relations Officers, Brig Gen Emeka Onwuemegbu, who spoke on the ocassion, asked anyone in doubt of the army‘s capabilities to dare it.

”Is there anyone here who still doubts our capabilities to handle any situation or militancy in any part of the country?

”If there is anyone, anywhere, who thinks otherwise, let him dare us.”

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Luka Yusuf, had during his briefing last week stated that the fire power demonstration would be used to showcase the strengths of the army.

He had advised militants in the Niger Delta or anybody who doubted the capabilities of the army to handle the situation in the region to send people to observe the fire power exercise.

Yusuf said, ”Anybody who thinks the Nigerian Army does not have the capabilities to handle the situation in the Niger Delta should come to the firepower display exercise.

”We are not at war in the Niger Delta. You call them militants, but I call them misguided children. If they were militants, then I would have had a different solution for them.”

He said, “The Niger Delta is not at war. You cannot go to war against any part of the country, unless the Niger Delta people decide on secession today.

“If that happens and the Federal Government orders that normalcy should be returned, there will be war. But, now, it is like fighting your own brothers and sisters and you can‘t have the same thing that happens in war.

”I believe 100 per cent with the Army Chief that the militants in the Niger Delta are misguided. If given the opportunity to fight, it will not be in the best interest of the Niger Delta people because the army has the capability.”

A good example of the army capability was displayed recently in Akure when they held a demostartion for non payment of allowance; several innocent people where mercilessly beaten up.

that is all the army is capable of; kill , murder , rape , torture unarmed innocent citizen. Like they did in Odi and Benue. they also specialise in selling weapons to militants and armed robbers.

When it comes to a fair fight , where both parties are armed, the army are as useless as a pregnant she goat in a battle front. now that Aziza has moved operation command to Port-Harcourt , we shall see how the army faired against the militants in a year time.

why are they making noise, they should quick quick go to bonny and brass to show their power not to be causing hold up and blowing siren in Port Harcourt metropolis.

For hw long will they say this, both the militatants and nigerian army are at par in terms of armament(ak 47 rifles,RPG,kevlar vest,koboko,GPMG,flat bottom pt boats and they both use ifesinachi buses for transport), the militants lead slightly in the fetish armament department where they wield more modern forms of juju.

the militants lead slightly in the fetish armament department where they wield more modern forms of juju

Ad the Nigerian Army would have the numerical advantage

Ad the Nigerian Army would have the numerical advantage

The Nigerian Army has a history of performing better when fighting unarmed opponents .