BREAKING: Tension As Another Explosion Hits Gas Facility In Rivers, Details Emerge

• Another gas explosion has been confirmed in the Akuku Toru local government area of River State
• The explosion occurred at the Soku oil facility which is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited
• This latest incident marked the third oil facility explosion in Rivers state within a week following the Ogoni and Oga/Egbema/Ndoni local government area explosions

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 7 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events

Rivers state - A gas explosion has occurred at the Soku oil facility in the Akuku Toru local government area of River State.

This is happening barely a week after a major explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana local government area of the state.

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As reported by Leadership, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the explosion in a statement issued on Sunday, March 23, 2025, 2025.

The group’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, cited reports from its network of youth volunteers across the Niger Delta region.

The Soku oil facility is 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 reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,”

The exact cause of the explosion remained uncertain, speculation suggested to equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.

The group demanded an urgent investigation into the Soku explosion.

YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and ensure accountability.

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“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,”

The third explosion within a week in Rivers

The incident is the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week.

It was gathered that the first explosion occurred in the Ogoni area of the oil-rich state.

The second explosion occurred in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni local government area.

President Bola Tinubu referred to the second explosion when he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Sim Fubara and others.

Legit.ng earlier reported that a powerful blast rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Rivers State, sparking concerns among residents and authorities.

Officials have yet to confirm whether the explosion resulted from sabotage, technical failure, or other factors, with no official response from NNPCL or security agencies.

Speculation links the incident to recent threats by Niger Delta militant groups over political tensions, raising concerns about Nigeria’s oil output.

NNPC reacts to reported explosion in Port Harcourt Refinery

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that NNPC limited clarified the reported explosion at Port Harcourt Refinery following a fire incident on Wednesday.

The national oil company described the incident as just a routine flare event with no risk to staff.

The fears of an explosion at the refinery come hours after pipeline explosions and also a declared state of emergency.