…Order mass evacuation non-indigenes
Tensions are at a breaking point in Rivers State as the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, a militant group, has issued a grave warning, threatening to attack oil installations over the ongoing political crisis and the federal government’s seizure of the state’s allocation.
In a chilling video that surfaced on social media Thursday, armed militants—dressed in combat gear and wielding AK-47 rifles—declared their intent to cripple oil production unless their demands were met. They also ordered all non-indigenes to evacuate the state immediately, warning of imminent violence.
The militants accused the factional 27-member House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, of deliberately plunging Rivers into chaos in an attempt to force a state of emergency or remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“If the federal allocation due to Rivers State is not released promptly, we will have no choice but to take decisive action, including hitting oil production,” one of the masked men threatened.
The group directly called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, alleging that Minister Nyesom Wike and his allies were behind the crisis.
This development follows last week’s Supreme Court ruling upholding a lower court’s decision to halt Rivers’ federal allocation while recognizing the Amaewhule-led lawmakers as the legitimate state assembly.
In response, the assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Governor Fubara to present the 2025 state budget, a deadline that expired at midnight on Wednesday.
With threats of attacks on critical oil infrastructure, fears are mounting over possible disruptions to Nigeria’s crude production, raising economic and security concerns nationwide.
