A fire outbreak has been reported along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji gas pipeline right-of-way in Rivers State, marking the third such incident in the oil-rich region within a week.
The latest fire occurred less than a week after a similar incident on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area.
In a statement on Sunday, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) described the incident as an explosion at the Soku gas facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area. The organization, which focuses on environmental protection in the Niger Delta, stated that its youth volunteers alerted them after hearing a loud blast and witnessing fireballs at the site, which is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
“The explosion was accompanied by fireballs that could be seen rising from the facility,” YEAC-Nigeria stated in a release signed by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface.
“The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the statement added.
Conflicting Reports on the Incident
However, the General Secretary of the Soku community, Witness Alasia, refuted claims of an explosion at the facility.
In a statement issued on behalf of the community leadership, Alasia dismissed reports of an explosion as misleading.
“It is disheartening and worrisome that people would spread false and baseless information. The Soku Gas Plant is safe and in perfect working condition,” he stated.
He did, however, confirm that a fire had occurred along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji gas pipeline right-of-way but noted that the cause remains undetermined. According to him, the operating company has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.
Rising Concerns Over Oil Infrastructure Security
The series of fire incidents in Rivers State have raised concerns about the security of oil and gas facilities in the region. The first explosion was reported in Ogoni, followed by another in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
These incidents were cited by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide address on March 18, during which he declared a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State. He linked the decision, in part, to repeated attacks on oil infrastructure.
In response to the security threats, the President suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing the governor’s failure to protect critical national assets.
Calls for Investigation
YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the Soku incident and urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause.
“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the group stated.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful. She requested that inquiries be sent via text message due to her busy schedule but had not responded at the time of filing this report.
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