Rivers Records Third Explosion in Seven Days

Rivers State has witnessed its third explosion in just seven days, raising growing concerns about the safety and security of oil and gas infrastructure in the region. The latest incident occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, reportedly operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a grassroots environmental organization with deep networks across the Niger Delta, confirmed the explosion on Sunday. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC said the explosion was reported by its youth volunteers stationed in the area.

“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to access. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the statement read.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with possible explanations ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or a deliberate attack. This latest incident follows two earlier explosions: the first on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area, and the second in the Oga/Egbema/Ndoni axis. The second explosion was 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.

In the same address, President Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly, citing the state government’s alleged failure to protect vital oil infrastructure. The move came shortly after a viral video surfaced showing youths issuing warnings against the potential impeachment of Governor Fubara.

YEAC-Nigeria has called for an urgent investigation into the Soku explosion and urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and extent of the incident. The organization emphasized that anyone found responsible must be held accountable in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.