Nigeria Police Detain Niger Delta Congress President Mudiaga Ogboru Over Planned Protest

The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly detained Mudiaga Ogboru, President of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), following the group’s planned protest against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Ogboru was said to have been arrested in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Rivers State.

Sources familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that the police initially invited Ogboru, who also serves as the NDC spokesperson, over his criticism of the emergency rule and for urging Niger Delta residents to express their disapproval through protests or other civil means. However, before he could respond, the police allegedly went ahead and arrested him.

A source speaking anonymously confirmed the development: “The police sent an invitation to Mudiaga Ogboru for criticizing the emergency rule and encouraging people to protest. But instead of waiting for him, they arrested the NDC President.”

Ogboru himself confirmed the arrest to SaharaReporters, revealing that he had received two separate police invitations—one from the Lagos State Police Command and another from the Rivers State Police Command—both related to the planned demonstration.

“I actually received two invitations, one from the Lagos Police Command and one from the Rivers State Police Command. It’s about our planned protest against the emergency rule in Rivers. Since they couldn’t get me, they went ahead to arrest our president in Rivers, who is living in Port Harcourt,” Ogboru said.

A copy of the police invitation letter obtained by SaharaReporters described the request as a “fact-finding invitation,” asking Ogboru to report to the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lagos before March 25, 2025.