. Armoured tanks, military trucks roll into Govt House in PortHarcourt
Embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara may have gone into hiding on Tuesday following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of the state of emergency in the state and the suspension of all democratically elected officials.
Fubara’s whereabouts were unknown on Tuesday night as military trucks rolled into Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt to enforce the declaration of a state of emergency.
But it could not be confirmed whether Governor Fubara had vacated Government House as of the time of filing this report. It was however gathered from Government House sources that the governor might have got a hint of the impending declaration of a state of emergency.
It was also learnt that Fubara held several long meetings with members of the suspended state Executive council on Tuesday.
The military trucks were stationed inside and outside the Rivers Government House on the first night of the state of emergency.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid the attacks on oil installations by suspected militants in the state.
Recall that some militant groups had earlier threatened to blow up pipelines if the Rivers House of Assembly impeached Governor Fubara.
The militants made good their threats a few hours after the lawmakers served Fubara and his deputy with notice of alleged misconduct.
President Tinubu in a swift response, suspended Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly members for six months and appointing a former Chief of Naval State, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator for the state.
Immediately after Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast declaring the state of emergency, no fewer than 10 military trucks were seen patrolling the road leading to the Rivers Government House main gate. Several armoured vehicles also took strategic positions within the road leading to the Government House gate.
The road leading to the Government House from the popular UTC junction was deserted as residents hurried to their respective houses to avoid being caught in any untoward incident.
