Another pipeline explosion has reportedly impacted the Soku oil facility in the Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, just a week after an explosion disturbed the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, located in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The latest explosion was reported by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO active across the Niger Delta, on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its executive director, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported an early morning explosion accompanied by fireballs at the facility, which Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited operates.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, with speculations ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or even deliberate attack. The incident marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week, intensifying concerns over the state’s oil infrastructure.
Previous Explosion
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area with the initial incident being referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
The recent string of explosions has raised alarm among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, a region already grappling with environmental degradation and security issues tied to oil production. With fires still raging at the Soku facility, calls for an urgent investigation and enhanced security measures around oil infrastructure have grown louder.
Growing Tensions in Rivers
In response to the escalating security challenges in the state, President Tinubu recently took decisive action by suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The move followed allegations that the governor failed to protect the state’s critical oil infrastructure and tensions have further heightened following a viral video in which some youths issued warnings against the governor’s impeachment.
