An unnamed Niger-Delta militant in Rivers State has declared that his group will be taking over the 23 local government area council offices in Rivers State on Wednesday.
In a video circulating on Nigeria’s social media, the self-described militant claimed he is working on behalf of the government to “fight crime“.
This declaration comes against the backdrop of a conflict involving the elected local government council chairmen, who are reportedly loyal to former governor Nyesome Wike, now the minister in charge of Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja, and the state governor. These chairmen have defied Governor Siminialayi Fubara‘s orders to vacate their offices by June 17, marking the end of their constitutional tenure.
Wike encouraged the chairmen to remain in their positions, stating that no one could remove them.
The militant, who appears to be from the Ijaw ethnic group, announced his intentions, “I am back from the creek. We are about to take over the local government offices by Wednesday because Monday and Tuesday have been declared public holidays. We’re about to take over all the 23 local government councils. They should wait for us; we’re coming.”
“We’re coming with the caretaker committee chairmen. It is my business to work with the government to fight crime. Those who are giving the governor trouble, we will give them back trouble exactly the way they deserve it,” he added.
Claiming to work for the “Ijaw Task Force Anti-bunkering South-South”—an unknown group—the militant said he has about 80% of his men ready for this massive statewide operation. He mentioned that he would lead the contingent to Ikwerre local government, addressing the LGA chairman there, Samuel Nwanosike directly, “If your head is hot, I will be there to pour water on it and cool it down.”
There has been no official response from the state authorities or police. Rivers State is notorious for political violence, often traceable to oil militants in the resource-rich Niger Delta region.
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