A fresh explosion has rocked the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, barely a week after a similar blast occurred on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo. The latest incident was confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO with deep networks in the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of YEAC, revealed that the explosion occurred early in the morning at the Soku oil facility, which is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited. The explosion, accompanied by fireballs visible in the sky, has caused significant concern. As of the time of the report, the fire was still raging, and the area remains difficult to access.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, with speculations ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or a deliberate attack. This marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State in less than a week, with the previous incidents occurring in Ogoni and Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. President Bola Tinubu had referenced these incidents in his March 18 nationwide broadcast, where he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the failure to protect oil infrastructure as one of the reasons for suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, and the State House of Assembly.
In the aftermath of these explosions, YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the Soku explosion. The organization has urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the explosion and hold those responsible accountable under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The ongoing incidents are contributing to rising tensions in the region, with growing calls for accountability and an end to the sabotage of vital oil infrastructure.
