Tensions in Rivers State escalate as the Niger Delta Rescue Movement (NDRM) threatens to cripple oil production over withheld state allocations. The militant group warns non-indigenes to leave, while political disputes intensify. Civil society groups call for federal intervention to prevent further crisis in the oil-rich region.
Tensions in Rivers State have escalated as a militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement (NDRM), has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government over the state's withheld financial allocations. The group declared its readiness to halt oil production if the funds are not released promptly.
In a video circulating on social media, armed militants, clad in camouflage, demanded immediate intervention from President Bola Tinubu, accusing political figures of fueling instability. They condemned what they described as a coordinated effort to disrupt governance under Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The crisis deepened following the Supreme Court’s ruling, which upheld the suspension of Rivers State’s allocations until the House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, is formally reconstituted. In response, Amaewhule’s faction issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara, demanding he submit the 2025 budget—a deadline that has since expired.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations have criticized the political standoff, warning that actions taken against Governor Fubara could be considered treasonable. Legal experts argue that the directives from the Amaewhule-led Assembly lack constitutional backing and risk plunging Rivers State into further chaos.
With oil production on the line and political tensions running high, stakeholders are urging urgent federal intervention to prevent an economic and security crisis in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
