Heavily armed soldiers reportedly took Siminalayi Fubara, the newly elected governor of Rivers State, and his family members hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
Reports indicate that they were taken hostage shortly after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, invoking Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Tinubu’s move, which has been widely criticised by many, including Ijaw groups and PANDEF, was based on a prolonged and escalating political feud led by state lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, who initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara last week in retaliation for his fallout with Wike.
According to Rivers government sources cited by SAVANNAH NEWSNOW, soldiers acting on the president’s orders to declare a state of emergency blocked all entrances and exits to the government house following the president’s speech, and prevented Fubara and his family from removing their belongings.
An official at the scene told The Savannah on Tuesday night that they were being held hostage, with security personnel refusing to let anyone leave the premises, claiming they had not received instructions to do so.
It was unclear whether the soldiers implemented their duties as instructed or were overzealous in following specific orders.
