Rivers Crisis: Police Vow To Crush Militants Threatening Oil Production
Tensions in Rivers State have escalated as a militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, 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, the Rivers State Police Command vowed to crack down on any threats to national security, insisting that no group has the monopoly on 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.
He stated, “You see, we are taking this thing one step at a time. There is nobody that has a monopoly of violence. If fire is coming from heaven, it will not consume only one person, definitely everybody will be consumed.
“So, nobody can threaten anybody, we are handling the situation the way we should and we are ready for anything that is going to come.
“All eyes are on Rivers State now. I don’t think there is any problem here really, but we will not allow anybody to heat the polity.
“You cannot fight the government and the governor himself has been handling the situation very maturely and well. So nothing will happen. The man on the ground (governor) is peaceful and God is on the throne and we are equal to the task.”
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, threatened the Fubara’s administration in the state to affirm its authority.
On Monday, it gave the governor 48 hours to submit the budget while on Wednesday, it nullified the appointment of all commissioners and other appointees of the governor and asked the governor to submit appointees’ name for screening in 48 hours.
The budget ultimatum expired on Wednesday, while the submission of names of commissioners for screening would expire today.
Reacting to the threat, a viral video circulating on social media on Thursday shows about eight militants armed with AK-47s and other assorted rifles in a forested area, chanting war songs and vowing to disrupt oil production unless the Federal Government intervenes to resolve the political impasse.
The chant of “asawana, asawana,” a common slogan among the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta, is heard as the militants brandish their weapons in the video.
The militants accused the Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly of instigating chaos to justify a state of emergency.
A supposed leader of the group read a letter: “We the Niger Delta Rescue Movement wish to express our deep concern regarding the recent development in Rivers State, threatening the smooth governance of our beloved state under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals proclaim as lawmakers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 state budget.
“This blatant attempt to destabilise the state is not only alarming but also a clear attempt at a coordinated effort to incite hell, potentially to lead to a state of emergency or even an impeachment.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and put a stop to the action of Minister Nyesom Wike and his associates whose intent is to drag Rivers State to avoidable crises.”
He further warned “Furthermore, we must make it abundantly clear that the youth of Rivers State will not sit idly while our state is dragged into tumult.
“If the federal allocation due to Rivers State cannot be released promptly, we will have no choice but to take decisive action, including hitting oil production.”
The video lasted for slightly over three minutes, as the militants said, “We can’t generate money into the federation account and not have our own share.
“Our workers deserve their salaries, our government needs the necessary resources to carry out essential development projects.
“We urge all non-indigenes in Rivers State to consider their safety and leave the state promptly as the situation may escalate.”