In a statement, YEAC-Nigeria's Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, detailed the severity of the latest incident, stating that "an explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach, and the fire is still ongoing."
The Soku oil facility is operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, and while the exact cause of the explosion remained uncertain, speculation suggested equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.
This latest incident marked the third oil facility explosion in Rivers State within a week, following the first in Ogoni and the second in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, the latter of which was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his March 18 nationwide address, where he declared a six-month state of emergency in the state.
As part of the emergency measures, the President suspended the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing the governor's alleged failure to protect oil infrastructure, a decision that followed threats from some youths in a viral video warning against Fubara's impeachment.
YEAC-Nigeria has now demanded an urgent investigation into the Soku explosion, urging the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause and ensure accountability, with the group stating that "Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
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