Rivers Women stage protest over State of Emergency

Hundreds of women in Rivers State have taken to the streets in protest against the State of Emergency recently declared by President Bola Tinubu over the state, demanding an immediate reversal and restoration of democratic governance.

The women, under the banner of Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group, began their march from Isaac Boro Park in Mile 1, moving through Garrison Junction along the busy Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, significantly disrupting traffic as they defied police barricades to carry out their peaceful protest.

Led by Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, Tamunobelema D. West, and Cynthia Amadi, the protesters expressed deep concern over what they described as a politically motivated takeover of Rivers State, aimed at undermining the will of the people.

Reading from a prepared statement, Dr. Nwankwo criticized the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator, stating that his conduct exceeds the constitutional limits of his interim role.

“Women of Rivers, gathered for justice and democracy, express total rejection of the state of emergency declared over our beloved state. This imposition is not driven by any genuine threat to national security but clearly a politically motivated manoeuvre aimed at subjugating our people and undermining our democracy,” Nwankwo said.

She further accused federal authorities of applying double standards, noting that more troubled states such as Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue, which suffer daily violence and insecurity, have not received similar treatment.

“It is confounding that Abuja would descend with the full weight of force on Rivers State, a state that has remained relatively peaceful and recorded no fatal incident,” the statement read.

The protesters also criticized the National Assembly, questioning the rationale behind imposing emergency rule in Rivers while neglecting severe crises in other parts of the country.

“We reject this blatant political invasion and the imposition of emergency rule in its entirety. We demand the immediate reinstatement of the democratically elected Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara,” they concluded.

The demonstration highlights the growing tension in Rivers State, with citizens—particularly women—now taking a central role in defending the state’s democratic structure.