Militants threaten oil installation attacks in Rivers, order evacuation

• Sekibo begs Tinubu to support Fubara amid crisis
• Former council chair resumes office, appoints 232 aides, dissolves youth body

A militant group, Niger Delta Rescue Movement, has threatened to attack oil installations in the Niger Delta region over the seizure of the allocation due to Rivers State.

The group called on all non-indigenes living in Rivers State to leave in their interest and safety, pointing out that hostilities are about to begin.

A trending social media video that surfaced yesterday showed the militants, numbering about eight, with AK-47s and other assorted riffles, in an unknown forest chanting and singing war songs. They said the action of the Martin Amaewhile-led 27 lawmakers was to cause anarchy in the state and pave the way for the declaration of a state of emergency. One of them who spoke said: “We, members of 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 who proclaimed themselves 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 to a coordinated effort to incite hell that will lead to a state of emergency or even an impeachment.

“We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and stop the action of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his associates whose intent is to drag Rivers State to avoidable crisis.”

HOWEVER, elder statesman and former Minister of Transportation, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to support Fubara, saying the Ijaw nation has the opportunity to produce a governor 24 years after Rivers State was created.

Sekibo also pointed out that Fubara has, within the short time he has been in office, prioritised the interests of the people, demonstrating commitment to promoting the unity of the nation.

Sekibo, who spoke at the commissioning of the remodelled Borokiri Fire Service Station and Firefighting vehicles in Port Harcourt, said the governor has convinced Rivers people to stand with the President.

MEANWHILE, one of the elected council chairmen in 2015 during the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration, Imie Benson Alpheaus, said he has resumed office as the chairman of Andoni Local Council, following the February 28 Appeal Court judgment that overturned the judgment of a High Court that sacked him.

After a decade-long legal battle, he expressed his profound gratitude to the judiciary, particularly the Court of Appeal for setting the records straight and for reinstating him and other elected councillors and the vice chairperson.

In his reinstatement address on March 3, 2025, Alpheaus outlined his vision for the council, focusing on commerce, industry, investment, and tourism to improve the peace, security, and socioeconomic fortunes of the people.

He reassured the people of Andoni that the council is committed to pursuing and recovering lost dividends of democracy, focusing on commerce, industry, investment, and tourism.

He emphasised the importance of collective effort, stating that his administration will remain law-abiding, peaceful, and resolute in confronting dividing forces.

“We shall immediately swing into actions that will usher in a renewed vista of policies, programmes, human and capital developments that will improve on the peace, security and socioeconomic fortunes of our people,” he said.

As part of his efforts to hit the ground running, Alpheaus announced the immediate dissolution of all Andoni Local Council appointees, including standing and sitting committees made by previous administrations.