Emergency Rule: Nigerian Police Withdraw Officers From Rivers State Government House, Deploy Fresh Personnel
The directive was contained in a police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters, dated March 18, 2025.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate withdrawal of its officers from the Rivers State Government House in Port-Harcourt.
The directive was contained in a police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters, dated March 18, 2025.
The message, issued by the Commissioner of Police, Department of Finance and Administration (COMPOL DFA) in Port Harcourt, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations (COMPOL DOPS), with additional directives to all Mobile Police Force (PMF) Commanders, Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), and Supervisory Officers.
According to the police communication, officers stationed at the Government House are to be withdrawn and replaced with a new set of personnel, who must undergo proper screening to avoid any “embarrassment” to the police command.
The change of guard must be completed by 10:00 AM on March 19, 2025(Wednesday).
The message reads: “IN VIEW OF THE RECENT DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY MINE X CONSEQUENTLY X THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE PERSONNEL FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE X YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO SUPERVISE AND RECEIVE THE WITHDRAWN PERSONNEL X REPLICATE SAME NUMBER OF PERSONNEL X TO TAKE OVER THE DUTY X GUARD X POST OF PERSONNEL SO WITHDRAWN X ALSO X YOU ARE TO ENSURE THAT PERSONNEL TO BE DEPLOYED ARE PROPERLY SCREENED X AND OF GOOD CHARACTER X TO AVOID ANY FORM OF EMBARRASSMENT TO THE COMMAND X EXCHANGE OF GUARD X POST X DUTY AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE X MUST BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE 1000HRS ΟΝ 19/03/2025 X FURTHERMORE X YOU ARE TO ENSURE A SMOOTH AND ORDERLY CHANGE OF GUARD X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT X.”
The development comes just hours after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.
The federal government has cited “threats to public order” as the reason for the drastic decision.
However, critics argue that the move is part of a larger political plot to neutralise Fubara, who has been engaged in a heated power struggle with his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis in Rivers State has been building for months, with open confrontations between Fubara and Wike loyalists.
The situation escalated in late 2024 when the State House of Assembly, dominated by Wike’s allies, attempted to impeach Fubara. The governor responded by declaring that he would not be a puppet and accused federal forces of interfering in the state’s affairs.
Following the declaration of emergency rule, security operatives stormed key government buildings in Port Harcourt, restricting movements around the Government House. Sources told SaharaReporters that some state officials had gone into hiding, fearing arrests by federal authorities.
Meanwhile, opposition voices and pro-democracy activists have condemned Tinubu’s action, describing it as an illegal coup” aimed at installing a federal-controlled administration in Rivers.
