Just a week after a major explosion occurred in the Trans Niger pipeline in Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area in River State, another explosion reportedly hit the Soku oil facility in the Akuku Toru local government area.
Vanguard reported that the Centre for Young People and the Environmental Advocacy (Yeac-Nigeria), a grassroots NGO, has a strong network throughout the Niger Delta, confirming the latest explosion on Sunday, March 23.
Yeac said in a statement signed by its executive director Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said it had received reports from its youth volunteers about the early morning explosion at the Soku oil plant at Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
He said: “I heard and saw an explosion from the sky in the facility area, which was hard to reach.
The cause of the explosion is still uncertain, and speculations include: equipment failure, sabotage and intentional attack.
This marks the third explosion at the River State oil facility in less than a week. The first occurred in Ogoni, the second occurred in the OGA/EGBEMA/NDONI Local Government Area, an incident broadcast nationwide by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, while declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
Following these incidents, the president suspended the River State Capitol, Lieutenant Governor and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing his alleged failure to protect the oil infrastructure.
The decision comes after some young people threatened amid viral video warnings of Governor Fobara’s impeachment.
Nigeria has called for an emergency investigation into the Soco explosion. The organization urged the National Bureau of Oil Spill Detection and Response (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation visit (JIV) to determine the cause.
“This offender must be held responsible for this in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA),” the statement concluded.
