RIVER STATE, Nigeria- A militant group known as the Niger Delta Rescue Movement has issued threats to target oil facilities in the Niger Delta region in response to the confiscation of funds allocated to Rivers State.
The group has urged all non-indigenous residents in Rivers State to evacuate for their own safety, warning that conflict is imminent.
A viral social media video that emerged on Thursday displayed militants, approximately eight in number, armed with AK-47s and various other weapons, gathered in an unidentified forest while chanting and singing war songs.
They accused the lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhile of attempting to create chaos in the state and setting the stage for a potential declaration of a state of emergency.
One militant stated: “We, the members of the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, wish to express our serious concern regarding the recent developments in Rivers State that threaten the peaceful governance of our cherished state under Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s leadership.
“We have learned that certain individuals claiming to be lawmakers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 state budget.
This blatant move to disrupt the state is deeply troubling and is an obvious coordinated effort to incite turmoil that could result in a state of emergency or even possible impeachment.
“We appeal to President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly to halt the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his allies, whose motives seem designed to plunge Rivers State into an unnecessary crisis.”