In a bold video statement circulating widely on social media, former Niger Delta militant leader General Gabriel Asabuja has vowed to defend the region against any advances by Fulani bandits or ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) terrorists. Filmed amid a display of rifles, ammunition, and other weaponry, Asabuja emphasized the Niger Delta’s readiness to repel incursions, particularly in Rivers State.
“This is an open warning to Fulani bandits and ISWAP: avoid the Niger Delta—we are fully prepared for you,” Asabuja declared in the footage, which has garnered thousands of views since its release on November 26, 2025. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, stating, “We are ready and waiting for terrorists in Rivers State. Every Nigerian should remain vigilant day and night. We all own this country, and we will not leave it for terrorists.”
Asabuja, a prominent figure from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) era and second-in-command to Alhaji Asari Dokubo, positioned his remarks as a direct alignment with Dokubo’s longstanding defiance against external threats. Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), recently reiterated in a November 25 video that he would personally eliminate any Boko Haram or bandit elements entering Port Harcourt, regardless of his Muslim faith: “If Boko Haram comes to Port Harcourt, my business is to kill them. I dey Zamfara dey kill them; I dey Plateau dey kill them; I dey Niger dey kill them.”
The statements come against a backdrop of heightened national insecurity, including recent mass abductions in northern states like Kebbi and Kwara, and Senate approval of the death penalty for kidnapping and banditry on November 26. Southern leaders, including 17 governors, have pledged a zonal security fund, but Asabuja’s call underscores grassroots mobilization in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where communities fear spillover violence.
Eyewitness accounts on X describe a recent clash in Port Harcourt where over 15 alleged Fulani bandits, chanting “Allahu Akbar,” were reportedly neutralized by local militants responding with “Asawana” cries—a traditional Ijaw war chant. While unconfirmed by official sources, the incident has amplified calls for self-defense amid perceived delays in federal responses.
Asabuja, known for his advocacy on resource control and anti-crime efforts in Rivers State, warned that tagging security forces in such videos could backfire, citing instances where northern bandits operate freely online without repercussions. “Some Nigerian soldiers are working with bandits and terrorists. That is why, when incidents happen in the South, security personnel are used against the people, but when it happens in the North, they protect and guide the bandits,” he alleged.
This development highlights growing regional autonomy in security matters, echoing the 2009 amnesty that quelled Niger Delta militancy through dialogue and reintegration. Experts warn that without similar federal engagement for northern threats, southern vigilantism could escalate tensions. The video, reposted by accounts like @ChuksEricE and @General_Somto, has sparked debates on X, with users praising the resolve while others question the sustainability of armed civilian defenses.
Niger Delta communities, long scarred by oil-related conflicts, are mobilizing under figures like Asabuja to protect vital infrastructure and farmlands. As Dokubo put it, “This country belongs to all of us, not bandits.” For now, the message is clear: the creeks and cities of the Niger Delta stand fortified.
For video footage and further updates, visit original X posts here and here.
