Uncertainty Surrounds Rivers State As Military Moves Into Government House.
Rivers State has been plunged into a state of uncertainty following reports that the whereabouts of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara remain unknown, just as military trucks rolled into the Government House in Port Harcourt late last night. The dramatic developments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing political crisis that has gripped Nigeria’s oil-rich state, leaving residents and observers on edge.
The military deployment came hours after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday evening, 18 March 2025, suspending both the governor and the state legislature for six months. In an address broadcast to the nation, Tinubu cited escalating violence—including attacks on oil infrastructure by militant groups—as justification for the move, appointing retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator. By nightfall, eyewitnesses reported seeing at least 10 military trucks stationed within and around the Government House, with armoured vehicles positioned at strategic points along the road from Isaac Boro Park to the UTC Junction.
Fubara, who has been at the centre of a bitter feud with factions of the Rivers State House of Assembly and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—was last seen publicly earlier on Tuesday. Sources close to the Government House told reporters that the governor had been meeting with aides and members of the suspended State Executive Council throughout the day, possibly anticipating the emergency declaration. However, following Tinubu’s broadcast, Fubara is said to have abruptly ended a meeting with visitors at his official residence and departed to an undisclosed location, accompanied by a handful of loyal aides.
A resident of Port Harcourt, speaking anonymously to the press, described the scene: “The streets around Government House were deserted by evening. Military trucks were everywhere, and armoured tanks blocked the roads. People were rushing home, afraid of what might happen next.” Another source within the Government House hinted that Fubara may have had a “premonition” of the unfolding events, noting that security personnel assigned to the premises were replaced shortly after the president’s announcement, though it remains unclear who authorised the change.
The roots of this crisis stretch back months, fuelled by a power struggle between Fubara and Wike, his former political mentor. Tensions flared when the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule—a Wike ally—served Fubara with an impeachment notice on Tuesday, alleging gross misconduct. Hours later, militant groups, who had threatened to target oil pipelines if the impeachment proceeded, carried out their warnings, prompting the federal government’s swift response. Posts on X reflect a mix of alarm and speculation, with some users claiming that soldiers have since held Fubara and his family “hostage” at the governor’s residence, though these reports remain unverified.
As of this morning, Fubara’s aides have either moved out of the Government House or gone silent, and attempts to reach the governor or his spokespeople have been unsuccessful. The heavy military presence has heightened fears of a broader clampdown, with roads leading to the Government House remaining eerily quiet. “This feels like a coup in Rivers,” one X user posted, capturing the growing unease.
For now, the people of Rivers State wait anxiously for clarity on their governor’s fate and the future of their government. With the nation’s oil production—and economy—closely tied to the region’s stability, the stakes could not be higher. As one local remarked, “We just want peace. Whatever happens next, let it be for the good of Rivers.”
