Explosion Rocks Soku Oil Facility in Rivers State, Third in One Week
Another explosion has hit an oil facility in Rivers State, barely a week after a blast at the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area. The latest incident occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area, raising fresh concerns over the increasing frequency of such incidents in the region.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the explosion in a statement on Sunday. According to the group’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, reports from community volunteers indicated that the explosion occurred in the early hours of the morning. The facility, operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, was engulfed in flames, with fireballs visible in the sky.
“The explosion was accompanied by a massive fire, and the blaze is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” YEAC stated.
The exact cause of the incident remains unknown, though speculation points to possible equipment failure, sabotage, or a targeted attack.
This marks the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week. Other recent incidents include:
The pipeline explosion in Gokana
The Oga/Egbema/Ndoni blast, which President Bola Tinubu referenced in his March 18 nationwide address, declaring a six-month state of emergency in the state.
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