Residents of waterfront villages around Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt are relieved as a plan to demolish their homes has been shelved, following the dismissal of the governor of the oil rich Rivers State.
Nigeria's supreme court disqualified governor Celestine Omehia on October 26 and appointed Rotimi Amaechi in his place. Omehia had ordered the demolition of 25 waterfront villages in August on grounds that criminal gangs were using the villages as hideouts. The orders were severely criticized. Amaeichi cancelled the planned demolition right after holding office.
But the peace might be shortlived. Following the change in government, militant groups in the delta called off their five-month ceasefire and announced that they would resume attacks on the oil industry.
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