Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has strongly denied any connections to militant groups and has warned against attempts to incite violence or economic sabotage in his name. Fubara made this clear in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The governor was responding to trending videos that alleged explosions at oil and gas installations in Rivers State. He described the videos as “fake” and “malicious,” dismissing them as deliberate attempts to mislead the public. He called on security agencies to investigate the origins of these videos and ensure that those behind them are held accountable.
“Our attention has, once again, been drawn to a flurry of malicious, fake and imaginary videos of purported explosions on oil and gas facilities in Rivers State,” the statement read. “Virtually all the fake videos have been linked to alleged militant groups in the state, with the creators of such content trying very hard to connect them to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”
He added that the communities where these alleged incidents took place have already debunked the claims, confirming that no such explosions occurred. According to them, all critical government assets within their areas remain safe, secure, and fully functional.
Governor Fubara made it clear that he has no affiliations with any militant groups and would never support any criminal activity that could jeopardize peace and stability. He emphasized that his priority is ensuring the security of the state and maintaining an environment conducive to governance and development.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no link to any militant group, does not contemplate any such association, and has no reason to encourage any criminal group or elements, anywhere in the state or Niger Delta, to undertake any action inimical to the peace of the people or safety and security of oil and gas facilities, and by extension, the economy of the country,” the statement continued.
The suspended governor reiterated his commitment to peace, stating that he is willing to go to great lengths to preserve stability in Rivers State. He warned against individuals or groups attempting to use his name to justify violence or economic sabotage, especially amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
“The governor had repeatedly made it clear at every public event that the peace of the state is paramount to him, and that he would pay any price to secure and sustain peace in the state, as it is only in an atmosphere of peace and security that governance and development can thrive,” the statement emphasized.
Furthermore, Fubara cautioned those spreading falsehoods online, accusing them of trying to create unnecessary tension in the state. He urged security agencies to take note of these misleading videos and take swift action against those responsible for fabricating them.
“Security agencies should take note of these fake videos designed to misinform the people, and further paint the state in bad light, and take every necessary step to contain them, and bring those behind them to book,” he warned.
