Less than a week after a blast rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area, another explosion has reportedly occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), an NGO with deep community ties in the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the group reported that its youth volunteers witnessed the explosion in the early hours of the morning at the facility operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
“An explosion, accompanied by fireballs, was heard and seen from the facility area, which is difficult to access. As of the time of this report, the fire is still burning,” the statement read.
The cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, with possible explanations ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or a deliberate attack.
This marks the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week. The first occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, an incident referenced by President Bola Tinubu during his March 18 nationwide address, in which he declared a six-month state of emergency in the state.
In response to the crisis, the President suspended the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing the governor’s alleged inability to safeguard oil installations. The move followed threats from youths in a viral video warning against Fubara’s impeachment.
YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate 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.
“The culprits must be held accountable in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the statement concluded.