Barely a week after an explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, another blast has reportedly struck the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
According to Vanguard, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a grassroots NGO active in the Niger Delta, confirmed the latest incident on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported 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 access. The fire is still raging as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The cause of the explosion remains uncertain, with speculations pointing to possibilities such as equipment failure or a deliberate attack.
This marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week. The first occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area—an incident referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his March 18 nationwide broadcast, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
