An explosion has been confirmed at the Soku oil facility operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. However, the exact cause of the incident—whether equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack—remains unclear.
The explosion comes amid ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, where an alleged impeachment notice against suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the State Assembly has fueled tensions. In the past week, multiple reports of explosions at oil facilities across the state have surfaced, though some have been debunked as false.
For instance, a viral video claiming suspected militants had bombed two Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) flow stations at Cawthorne Channel was proven to be misinformation. Investigations revealed that the footage was from a previous explosion at Cawthorne Channel 1 in Iloamatoru, Bonny, on February 19, 2025, which resulted in three fatalities. However, confirmed explosions did occur in Bodo Community in Ogoniland and Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area.
President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the series of explosions as part of the rationale for heightened security measures to protect vital oil infrastructure.
Confirming the Soku explosion, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), reported that the blast was accompanied by fireballs.
However, local authorities have dismissed claims circulating on social media that the Soku gas plant itself was engulfed in flames. Mr. Witness Alasia, General Secretary of the Soku Kingdom, clarified that while a fire broke out on a gas pipeline along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji right-of-way, the Soku gas plant remains intact and fully operational.
Part of the statement reads: “On behalf of the leadership of the Soku Kingdom, I write to debunk the falsehood escalating on all social media that there was an explosion in the Soku Gas Plant. It is disheartening and worrisome that people will mischievously misinform the public with a baseless and untrue story.”
“The public should disregard this unguided and untrue report. We use this medium to inform the public that Soku and her satellite communities are safe and calm. Regards.”
