Another Explosion Rocks Rivers State Oil Facility Amid Escalating Attacks

Less than a week after an explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area, another blast has struck the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the latest explosion in a statement on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over the growing wave of incidents at oil facilities in the region.

YEAC Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said the group received reports from its youth volunteers about an early morning explosion at the Soku oil facility operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

“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,” YEAC stated.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with speculations ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or a deliberate attack.

This marks the third explosion in Rivers State in less than a week, following:

• The Ogoni pipeline blast in Gokana.
• The Oga/Egbema/Ndoni explosion, which President Bola Tinubu referenced in his March 18 nationwide address declaring 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 failure to protect oil infrastructure. His decision followed threats from some youths in a viral video warning against the governor’s impeachment.

YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure those responsible are held accountable under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

As attacks on oil facilities continue to rise, stakeholders are urging swift action to safeguard Nigeria’s energy sector and protect critical infrastructure.