Jo Cox British lawmaker in critical condition after attack

Army to continue to maintain ceasefire in Niger Delta The army says it willl continue to honour the two-week ceasefire against the Niger Delta militants – It vows however to use the rule of military engagement if bombing continues – The militants has vowed to continue to bomb pipelinesin he region The Nigerian army has insisted that it will continue to maintain the ceasefire declared by the federal government in the spate of pipeline bombing in the Niger Delta region. The federal government ordered troops to withdraw operation in the region in order to allow a dialogue between the federal government and representatives of the militants. He said it was art of the decision made by Tukur Buratai, the chief of army staff but warned that the army will not fail to use the rule of engagement if the militants failed to honour the ceasefire. “The Chief of Army Staff called a meeting of all Principal Staff Officers and General Officers Commanding, as well as Directors in the Army Headquarters. “The meeting is essentially to brief us on the aftermath of the meeting in the presidency and give further operational directives on the happenings in the Niger Delta. “The two-week ceasefire was such that all military operations in the region were supposed to stop to enable government to apply the non-kinetic means of reaching out to the militants. “Now, the militants have resorted to continue with the attacks on pipelines, we will tarry for a while and if this does not stop, we will decisively act wherever it is necessary.” He said employing military engagement was to preserve the unity of the country. “The issue of applying the rules of engagement is to emphasise our adherence to the necessary procedures in internal security operations,’’ he said.