A second major explosion has hit an oil facility in Rivers State within a week, this time at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
The blast, confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), caused fireballs and remains under investigation. The cause is still unknown but could be due to equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.
This marks the third explosion in Rivers State within a week, raising security concerns over oil infrastructure.
In response, President Bola Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency, suspended the governor and lawmakers, and called for stronger protection of oil assets.
YEAC-Nigeria has urged authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.