By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Security Agencies on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, said they have successfully aborted a number of attacks targeted at the country’s oil facilities in the troubled Rivers State, post declaration of a State of Emergency.

This is just as they expressed their commitment and readiness to thwart any attacks on critical national assets or moves to breach the peace and security of the State.

In an interactive session with the Media on behalf of the other Arms of Security Agencies, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police,  Olugbenga Adepoju, informed that one suspected oil facilities attacker died while attempting to detonate an explosive device on a pipeline.

He attributed the relative calm and normalcy that have pervaded the State, since the declaration of State of Emergency to the commitment of the joint security forces .

The CP reaffirmed the readiness of Security Operatives to adequately protect the country’s critical infrastructural facilities as well as maintain peace and security.

The Source reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, imposed an  emergency rule on Rivers State, citing the absence of effective Government, and threat to critical economic facilities in the state as part of the reasons for his action.

However, the action, apart from provoking widespread indignation among not a few Nigerians, has, also, further heightened security concerns both in Rivers ,and the Niger Delta region.

There have been growing  fears that the proclamation of the State of  Emergency, rather than  serve to abate tension, may actually provoke hostilities, and breach of peace and security.

However, CP Adepoju, has assured that the police in conjunction with other security outfits are on top of the situation.

“I extend our profound commendation to the joint patrol Operations conducted by the Police, the Military , and other sister Security Agencies who have diligently executed their mandate to support the objective of the State Emergency in Rivers state .

“Our  collective efforts have been instrumental to the sustenance of peace ,as well as the calm currently being enjoyed in our dear State.

“It is imperative to emphasize that this phase of security activities is a necessary measure aimed at preventing any potential breakdown of law and order.

“The decision to deploy a proactive policing strategy was informed by an emerging atmosphere that could have been exploited by trouble makers to plunge the State into insecurity and chaos.

“I assure the good people of Rivers State that this is a temporary phase and in due time, we will all witness a more peaceful and secure State.

“Furthermore, I must stress the critical importance of securing national assets and infrastructures within Rivers state.

“These assets are vital, not only to the people of Rivers State, but to the entire nation. Consequently, it is the collective responsibility of all well-meaning residents of the State to ensure their protection, particularly, against oil thieves, vandals, kidnappers, cultists and other criminals.

“Over the past week, the joint efforts of the security agencies in Rivers State have among other successes thwarted attempts by miscreants to vandalize pipeline which led to the death of the vandals in the process of trying to detonate an explosive on a pipeline as a result of the quick response of the state security agencies at Aluu-Rumuekpe in Ikwerre LGA on 16th March 2025”, the CP noted .

Similarly ,Adepoju also stated that Security Agencies have equally recorded some breakthroughs in the fight against oil theft, kidnappings, and other criminal activities,within the last few days.

He reassured of the determination of the security agencies to effectively protect lives and properties of the people, as well as maintain peace and security.

He called for the support and understanding of the people at this critical stage in the life of the State.

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Organized Labour has warned that it may be left with no other alternative than to shut down economic and social activities in Rivers state should President Bola Tinubu fail to lift the State of Emergency imposed on the  state within a reasonable period of time.

The Source reports that the President had on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, suspended the democratically elected  Governor of the State, his Deputy ,and members of the State House of Assembly, and proclaimed an initial six months State of Emergency.

However, the action has elicited widespread condemnation both within and outside the Country, and even across party lines, with not a few dubbing it as a flagrant assault on rule of law and democracy.

So far,  Government’s defence of the exercise has been drowned by the National and Global anger that has continued to trail the President’s action.

The Organized Labour in Rivers State said they are prepared to explore actions that may have serious consequences on the national economy and other activities should the President continue to ignore popular calls for the rescinding of the emergency rule.

The Labour Unions’ threat is coming barely 24 hours after the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, vowed not to recognize what it tagged an  “unconstitutional arrangement in Rivers state”.

This is even as the umbrella body of Nigeria legal practitioners, called on the President to, immediately, reverse the Emergency Rule in the State.

In a statement jointly issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 by Alex Agwanwor and Ikechukwu Onyefuru, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, Rivers State Chapter respectively, the Organized Labour strongly condemned the President’s action.

The Labour Leaders expressed serious concern about both the short and long term effects of such a glaring unpopular and unconstitutional decision on the State.

They described the suspension of the Governor, his Deputy and Legislators as an exercise carried out prematurely, and without any convincing bases.

According to the Organized Labour, the people of Rivers will not  tolerate any attempt to unduly undermine their constitutionally guaranteed right to freely choose their leaders.

The Labour Leaders, therefore, noted that the action taken by the President to suspend the State Governor and other elected officials in the State, is an act calculated to infringe on the right of the people of Rivers state.

They stressed the chain of hardship which the State of Emergency has so far inflicted on Local Council workers, many of whom they claimed have been unable to receive their salaries.

The State of Emergency, the Labour Leaders insisted, could trigger some serious economic consequences both for  Rivers state and the country if not urgently reversed.

This is more so, as they noted, the  country is already grappling with myriad of challenges including spiraling inflationary trend, Naira devaluation, high exchange rates, rising unemployment, and high cost of living.

The organized labour emphasized the urgent need for the Federal Government to place the  safety, welfare of the citizens, above political interests .

They warned that it will be counterproductive for the Government to prioritize political maneuvering over the wellbeing of the already suffering citizens of Rivers state.

They called on the President, the National Assembly, and  the Judiciary to explore all possible steps towards overturning the emergency rule situation in the State.

However, the Labour Unions, insisted that  failure by all the relevant authorities to end the clearly unjust State of Emergency in the State, could lead to the escalation of the already tense political atmosphere in the state.

The Labour Unions warned that they will not hesitate to take actions if their demand is not met within a reasonable time-frame.