At least three people were injured in the chaos.
Tensions erupted in Rivers State at the weekend as security forces, allegedly deployed on the orders of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, reportedly fired shots and tear gas at Ijaw youths and supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
At least three people were injured in the chaos.
The unrest followed a standoff over the use of a venue for an event organised by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
In a video recorded during the incident, IYC Secretary General decried the alleged use of military force against the group.
“They have started tear-gassing us again. Wike sent the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian police to kill us in our own land,” he said.
According to him, security forces prevented the Ijaw youths from using their chosen venue while allowing another event linked to Wike’s allies to proceed.
“We arrived at our venue and they said that Wike’s programme should hold but our own should not hold. That is the problem. The Nigerian army, police, navy, air force, joint task force, all of them are here, sent by the President on behalf of Wike in our own Ijaw land.
“This is what is going on. Look at them. We have nothing against them. We have two venues. The King of Abalama Community said we should all stay away, but George Kelly and his group still went ahead and said they will still hold.
“They have been shooting at us. I have been injured. Three of our people have been injured. Those ladies are almost dead all because of Nyesom Wike.
“Three of our ladies are already hospitalised. We didn't come here with anything. We are not killing anybody. This is our land, Kalabari land, and we came here to have our programme.
“You brought armoured tanks to shoot at us. Why? They are stopping us from going inside. We are not violent people. They have injured me before and three ladies are already hospitalised in Degema.
“This is my land. I'm a Kalabari man. We cannot die for you people. What is happening? We are all Kalabari people. We are Ijaw people. Can't I have my programme in my community because of Wike? Tinubu, why?”
The situation reportedly escalated when security forces prevented the group from putting up signposts in support of Governor Siminalayi Fubara while allowing banners of Wike to be displayed throughout the area.
“We came to install the governor’s signposts, but the soldiers refused us. They changed it with Wike’s own. Why? If they don’t agree, we too will not agree,” the IYC Secretary General added.
Speaking with some of the police officers who could be seen threatening to shoot them, he said, “We have two programmes, the king wrote that we should not hold our own and let them also not hold their own. Why will they send you people to come and kill us in our own land?
“Since morning, you people have been shooting at us. Why? You have scattered all the women who came for the IYC programme. Same thing with all the young men. Why?”
Pointing at Wike’s banner hanged all over the area, he said, “We came here this morning but the soldiers who are supposed to protect us came here and removed all the governor’s signposts.
Asari Dokubo Reacts, Slams Wike
Reacting to the incident, former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo condemned Wike, calling him a “drunkard” and accusing him of using security forces to intimidate unarmed civilians.
“Even that drunkard Wike knows. You are making mouth. You are shooting tear gas at unarmed women. You are shooting guns at unarmed women. All because you wanted to lure me,” Dokubo said.
“Was it the job of the police to shoot at unarmed women? Where in any civilised nation in the world is that done? You are daring Ijaw people.”
He further questioned Wike’s political credibility and background, saying, “Who is Nyesom Wike? What has he done before other than stealing government money? Where has he worked? What is his pedigree?”
He continued: “They know if we come, they will die and none of us will be scratched and we will walk away.”
The violence in Rivers State comes amid growing political tensions between Wike and Governor Fubara, his former ally turned political rival.
Neither Wike nor the Nigerian government has issued an official response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
WATCH: Chaos In Rivers: Three Injured As Wike Allegedly Deploys Soldiers, Police Against Ijaw Youths, Fubara Supporters pic.twitter.com/H7aNmudtUN
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) March 16, 2025