There is growing tension in Rivers State as a militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, has threatened to attack oil installations in response to the ongoing political crisis and the alleged withholding of the state’s federal allocation.
The group also issued a warning to non-indigenes in the state, urging them to leave for their safety, as they claimed hostilities were imminent.
In response, however, the Rivers State Police Command has vowed to crack down on any threats to national security, insisting that no group has the monopoly of violence.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured residents that security forces were prepared to contain any disruptions, warning that law enforcement would not tolerate attempts to destabilise the state.
Adepoju dismissed the threats by the militants or others, saying the police were equal to the task and would not allow anybody to heat the polity.
The state has been experiencing a political crisis since 2023, while the latest Supreme Court judgments validating the 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, created another round of political crisis.
The Supreme Court, on Friday, February 28, 2025, affirmed the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly and nullified the local government election held on October 5, 2024.
The apex court also ordered the seizure of all allocations to the state, asking Fubara to re-submit the budget to the Assembly.
Since the judgments, the Amaewhule-led Assembly has, through its sittings, been trying to affirm its authority.
On Monday, it gave the Governor Siminalayi Funara 48 hours to submit the budget while on Wednesday, it nullified the appointment of all commissioners and other appointees of the governor and asked him to submit appointees’ name for screening in 48 hours.
