Community leaders in the Soku region of Rivers State have clarified recent reports surrounding an incident at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) gas plant, vehemently denying claims of a major explosion.
Initial reports, which circulated widely on social media and some news outlets, suggested a significant explosion had occurred at the gas plant, causing widespread panic and raising concerns about potential environmental damage. However, local leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid potential backlash, have provided a different account of the events.
“There was no explosion at the Soku gas plant itself,” one community elder stated.
“What we witnessed was a fire along a pipeline connected to the facility. It was a serious fire, and we are concerned, but it was not an explosion as some have reported.”
Another leader corroborated this account, emphasizing the need for accurate information.
“We understand the concern surrounding such incidents, but spreading misinformation only creates unnecessary fear. We need a clear and factual understanding of what happened,” he said.
The community leaders confirmed that the fire, though contained, caused significant alarm among residents. They are now calling on NAOC and relevant government agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the pipeline fire and to implement measures to prevent future occurrences.
NAOC has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. However, sources close to the company indicate that they are aware of the “pipeline fire” and are conducting an internal investigation.
The Rivers State government has also been notified of the incident and is expected to engage with both the community and NAOC to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation.
