The Rivers State Police Command has vowed to crush militants threatening to disrupt oil production in the state.
The threat comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the state, which has seen a militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, issue an ultimatum to the federal government to intervene in the crisis.
The militant group, in a viral video circulating on social media, threatened to attack oil installations in the state unless the federal government intervenes in the political crisis. The group also warned non-indigenes in the state to leave for their safety, as they claimed hostilities were imminent.
The Rivers State Police Command, in response to the threats, has vowed to crush the militants and maintain law and order in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, assured residents that security forces were prepared to contain any disruptions, warning that law enforcement would not tolerate attempts to destabilize the state.
Adepoju stated, “You see, we are taking this thing one step at a time. There is nobody that has a monopoly of violence. If fire is coming from heaven, it will not consume only one person, definitely everybody will be consumed. So, nobody can threaten anybody, we are handling the situation the way we should and we are ready for anything that is going to come.”
The political crisis in Rivers State began in 2023, with the Supreme Court judgments validating the 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The crisis has seen the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly threaten the Fubara administration, with the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, promising to abide by the Supreme Court judgments.
The threats by the militant group have been condemned by various stakeholders, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The spokesperson of the APC in the state, Chibike Ikenga, described the threats as unnecessary and criminal.
Ikenga stated, “Those who are issuing threats know that it is criminal to do so. This is a political disagreement which will be settled and has been settled by the Supreme Court. The person who they claimed they are speaking for has said he is going to implement the Supreme Court judgments without reservations.”
The Rivers State Police Command’s vow to crush militants threatening to disrupt oil production in the state is a welcome development. The command’s assurance that security forces are prepared to contain any disruptions and maintain law and order in the state is a testament to their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents.