The leadership of the Soku community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has refuted reports of an explosion at the Soku gas facility, calling them misleading and urging the public to disregard such claims.
Reacting to allegations that an explosion Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday, hit a gas pipeline operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, the General Secretary of the community, Mr. Witness Alasia, categorically denied the incident.
In a statement issued on behalf of the community leadership, Alasia described the reports as “baseless and untrue,” emphasising that the Soku Gas Plant remains in perfect working condition.
“It is disheartening and worrisome that people will mischievously misinform the public with a baseless and untrue story. Soku Gas Plant is safe and in perfect working condition,” he stated.
However, Alasia acknowledged that there was a fire outbreak along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji gas pipeline right of way but noted that the cause remains undetermined.
“The company has not come up with any useful information,” he added. He assured residents and the general public that the Soku community and its satellite settlements remain peaceful and secure.
Meanwhile, environmentalist Dr. Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Chairman of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), confirmed the incident through the center’s youth volunteers network.
He reported that an explosion was heard and fireballs were seen in the sky from the affected area, which remains difficult to access. According to Dr. Fyneface, the fire was still burning as of the time of his statement.
“The cause of the explosion is not yet known—whether it was due to equipment failure, sabotage, or an attack on the facility,” he stated.
The Advocacy Centre has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and hold any perpetrators accountable under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
This latest development comes following heightened concerns over recent incidents at oil and gas facilities in Rivers State, which led President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state.
However, the Soku community leadership insists that reports of an explosion at the gas plant are unfounded and urged authorities to ensure accurate information is disseminated.
