BREAKING: Another Oil Facility Explosion Hits Rivers State

Another explosion has rocked an oil facility in Rivers State, just days after a major blast on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area.

This time, the incident occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, further raising concerns about the security of oil infrastructure in the region.

The explosion, which happened early Sunday morning, was confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria). The organization, known for its grassroots presence in the Niger Delta, stated that its youth volunteers reported the blast, which was accompanied by fireballs rising from the facility operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

“The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the group stated. However, accessing the facility has been challenging, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

Speculation continues about what triggered the incident, with possible causes ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or even a deliberate attack. This marks the third explosion within a week in oil-rich Rivers State, following similar incidents in Ogoni and Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

The repeated attacks on oil infrastructure were referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide address on March 18. In response, he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, along with his deputy and members of the state’s House of Assembly, citing their failure to protect critical oil assets.

YEAC-Nigeria has called for an urgent investigation into the latest explosion at Soku. The group urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to uncover the cause of the blast and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the organization stated, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the growing security crisis in the region.
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