Fresh explosion hits Rivers State’s Soku oil facility amid ongoing State of Emergency

Rivers State remains on edge as another explosion reportedly struck the Soku oil facility in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on Sunday.

This incident comes just days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, highlighting the growing security concerns surrounding critical infrastructure.

The affected facility, operated by Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), marks the third attack on vital energy installations in Rivers State in recent weeks.

Attempts to reach NLNG’s spokesperson, Andy Odeh, via text messages and calls for comments remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, stated: “We have yet to receive any report of such an incident.” Meanwhile, an insider at NLNG revealed that the company would formally address the situation on Monday.

However, confirmation of the explosion came from the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria). The organisation reported that an explosion, accompanied by fireballs, was seen in the sky near the facility, which remains difficult to access.

The fire is still ongoing at the time of this report, as shown in short videos shared with the organisation by youth volunteers of YEAC-Nigeria,” the group stated.

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Contrary to these claims, the leadership of Soku Kingdom has dismissed reports of an explosion, insisting that it was a fire outbreak and not a detonation.

General Secretary of Soku Kingdom, Mr. Witness Alasia, clarified that the fire occurred along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji right of way, emphasizing that the Soku gas plant—one of the nation’s critical energy suppliers—remains secure and fully operational.

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“On behalf of the leadership of the Soku Kingdom, I write to debunk the falsehood circulating on social media that there was an explosion at the Soku Gas Plant. It is disheartening and worrisome that people would mischievously misinform the public with a baseless and untrue story,” Alasia stated.

“The public should disregard this misleading and unverified report. We take this opportunity to assure everyone that Soku and its satellite communities are safe and calm,” he added.

This latest incident follows a series of explosions that have rocked the state. Just days ago, an explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in the Bodo, Gokana, and Omwawriwa communities in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.

Additionally, on March 19, 2025, a fire broke out at the Port Harcourt refinery, further escalating concerns over the safety of the region’s energy infrastructure.

The security crisis in Rivers State took a significant turn on March 18, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending democratically elected authorities. The National Assembly formally approved the declaration on Thursday, solidifying the federal government’s intervention in the state.

Following the emergency declaration, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) has assumed office as the sole administrator of Rivers State, taking charge of governance and security affairs amid mounting tensions.

As conflicting reports emerge regarding the latest explosion, stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to address the escalating threats to Rivers State’s oil and gas sector, which remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy.