Barely a week after a major explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana local government area of Rivers State, another blast has occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru local government area of the State.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the explosion on Sunday, citing reports from its network of youth volunteers across the Niger Delta region.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the group detailed the severity of the latest incident.
“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,” the statement read.
The Soku oil facility is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, and while the exact cause of the explosion remained uncertain, speculation suggested to equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.
This latest incident marked the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week. The first occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The Oga explosion was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his March 18 nationwide address, where he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
As part of the emergency measures, President Bola Tinubu suspended the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing the governor’s alleged failure to protect oil infrastructure. The decision followed threats from some youths in a viral video warning against Fubara’s impeachment.
YEAC-Nigeria demanded an urgent investigation into the Soku explosion. The group urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and ensure accountability.
“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the statement concluded.
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