An explosion has rocked the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, making it the third such incident in less than a week.
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Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday. He cited reports from the organization’s youth volunteers, who described fireballs accompanying the blast, which was still ongoing at the time of the report.
While the exact cause remains unknown, there is speculation that equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack could be responsible.
The explosion follows two similar incidents in the state-one in Ogoni and another in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. President Bola Tinubu, in his March 18 nationwide address, referenced the latter incident while declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State. He also suspended the State House of Assembly, the Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara over alleged failure to safeguard oil installations.
YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the Soku explosion, urging the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV). The group stressed the need for accountability in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
