The Federal Government has deployed 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel to Rivers State following recent attacks on oil pipelines amidst the political crisis that led to the declaration of a state of emergency.
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NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, confirmed the massive deployment on Wednesday, stating that the operatives were specifically tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and preventing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
“The NSCDC hereby warns against destruction and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure across the Niger Delta as over 10,000 operatives have been deployed to collaborate with other security agencies to provide adequate peace and security of lives and property,” Babawale said.
This security deployment comes after three explosions occurred at oil installations in Rivers State between Sunday and Tuesday, which preceded President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule and suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly members.
The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, has strongly condemned the federal government’s approach, likening the suspension of democratic structures in Rivers State to the military coups that recently occurred in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
“This unconstitutional takeover of another branch of government in Rivers State under Governor Siminalayi Fubara by an elected civilian President and his grotesque, nebulous and sham decision to bring back a retired Naval Chief to exercise the same powers of an elected governor is a calculated attempt to establish a dictatorship,” Onwubiko stated.
Also, TheNigeriaLawyer questioned why the federal government was “wasting resources on troop deployment rather than utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to resolve what is essentially a political dispute, not a war situation.” The legal publication emphasized that the political crisis in Rivers State requires dialogue and constitutional approaches rather than military intervention, suggesting that the deployment of 10,000 troops represents a disproportionate and potentially counterproductive response.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported an increasing military presence at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt. More soldiers were seen in patrol vans entering the compound, with three Armoured Personnel Carriers stationed at the entrance.
An aide to Governor Fubara, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters, “As I speak with you, more soldiers are entering the Government House. This afternoon, over 15 came in. They are believed to be an advanced team of the Sole Administrator who is still expected to resume duties. This evening, some more soldiers came in.”
The deployment comes as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), sworn in as the state’s sole administrator on Wednesday, prepares to assume control of the state for an initial period of six months.
As the National Assembly debates the legality of the emergency rule today, questions continue to mount about whether such a heavy military presence is appropriate or necessary for resolving what many observers see as primarily a political dispute between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
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