Residents of Aleto community in Eleme local government area of Rivers State, say they are still counting their losses following a gas explosion that occured in the community yesterday.
This is as the state government is yet to issue any official statement on the incident that destroyed dozens of houses and business centres.
LEADERSHIP gathered no fewer than 20 people who were injured during the incident are said to be taken treatments in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
When our Correspondent visited that community on Friday morning, scene of the gas explosion had already been cordoned by operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a resident of the community, Obari Justice, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost during the gas explosion.
“We thank God that there were no loss of life. It is just that a lot of properties were damaged. So, we thank God that there was no loss of life,” Obari said.
Narrating the incident to our Correspondent, another resident of the community, Chima Ude, said: “We were just working outside when we heard a loud sound and when we turned, it was an explosion from the gas pipeline. It started pumping and kept pumping.”
Also speaking, an indigene of Aleto community, Ngofa Jane, said a lot of people got injured while trying to escape from the scene of the incident.
“People were running and falling. One woman who has a shop close to the pipeline was thrown away by the explosion. It was God that decided that the woman should not die. If not, she would have been dead by now. We need government’s help,” Ngofa said.
Confirming the incident, the leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, Daniel Chuma, who visited the scene, said he had written to the company about the leak and petitioned relevant authorities, but no concrete action was taken to stop it.
Chuma said, “There was a leakage on another section of the Nigeria Gas Company. We wrote to them and submitted a petition to NOSDRA and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, copying the police for urgent intervention.
“We asked for a joint investigation. We don’t know what they did before they left. Today, we were called to an explosion at the same Nigeria Gas Company pipeline that has destroyed over 50 houses and cars, with many casualties. People have been rushed to the hospital.”
He said no representative of the company had visited the scene, adding that community members had taken steps to secure the area and prevent further casualties.
“What we have done is to cordon off the incident scene with barrier tape and ask our community people to stay away.
“Before now, everyone scampered for safety. The few who came were asked to stay far away to avoid any further incident,” he said.
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