An explosion has been confirmed at the Soku oil facility operated by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
However, the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, with possibilities ranging from equipment failure to sabotage or an attack on the facility.
The incident comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, following the alleged impeachment notice to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the State Assembly.
In the past week, multiple reports of explosions at various oil facilities across the state have surfaced.
While some of these reports were accurate, others turned out to be false.
For instance, a viral video claiming that suspected militants bombed two Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) flow stations at Cawthorne Channel was debunked.
It was later confirmed that the video was an old clip from an explosion that occurred on February 19, 2025, at Cawthorne Channel 1 in Iloamatoru, Bonny, which resulted in three fatalities.
However, reports of explosions in Bodo Community in Ogoniland and Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area were confirmed to be true.
In a nationwide broadcast on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the recent explosions as part of the justification for taking action to protect critical oil infrastructure.
Confirming the explosion in Soku, the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, stated that the incident was accompanied by fireballs.
However, the leadership of the Soku Kingdom has dismissed reports circulating on social media that fire engulfed the Soku gas plant.
The General Secretary of Soku Kingdom, Mr. Witness Alasia, clarified the situation, explaining that while a fire outbreak occurred on a gas pipeline along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji right of way, the Soku gas plant remains intact and fully operational.
Part of his 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.”
