A militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, has threatened to attack oil installations in the Niger Delta over the withholding of federal allocations due to Rivers State. The group also called on non-indigenes living in Rivers to leave immediately for their safety, warning that hostilities were imminent.
A viral social media video that surfaced on Thursday showed about eight armed militants in an undisclosed forest, wielding AK-47 rifles and other weapons while chanting war songs. The phrase “asawana, asawana,” a common slogan among the Ijaw people, was repeatedly heard as the militants brandished their weapons.
They accused the faction led by Martin Amaewhule and 27 lawmakers of attempting to plunge Rivers State into chaos to justify declaring a state of emergency. One of the militants, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed their concerns over the political crisis in Rivers State under Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“It has come to our attention that certain individuals, claiming to be lawmakers, have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 budget. This blatant attempt to destabilize the state is alarming and appears to be a coordinated effort to incite chaos, potentially leading to a state of emergency or even impeachment,” he said.
The group further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his allies, whom they accused of fueling the crisis.
The militants warned that if the federal government failed to release Rivers State’s allocation promptly, they would resort to direct action, including disrupting oil production. “We cannot generate revenue for the federation account and be denied our rightful share. Our workers deserve their salaries, and our government needs the necessary resources to carry out essential projects,” one of the militants stated.
They urged non-indigenes in the state to leave for their own safety, hinting at a possible escalation of violence. “We value the safety of all residents and advocate for a peaceful resolution to this crisis. However, enough is enough! We stand united for the future of Rivers State and demand respect from our leaders,” they declared.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold Rivers State’s federal allocation while recognizing Amaewhule’s faction as the legitimate State Assembly. Following this, the Assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara on Monday to present the 2025 budget. The deadline expired at midnight on Wednesday, escalating tensions in the state.