Explosions in Edo and Rivers lead to casualties and destruction

Explosions in Edo and Rivers states have left five people feared dead and injured at least 31 others, including a pregnant woman. The blasts also destroyed houses, shops, and other property worth millions of naira.

In Rivers State, a gas pipeline exploded in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area, on Thursday evening. This explosion injured at least 20 people and destroyed about 50 houses.

In Edo State, a tanker explosion in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, left 11 people with different degrees of burns. Five people are feared dead.

The injured victims in Edo were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. They were receiving treatment as of Thursday evening.

The explosions caused serious damage to businesses and property. Traders in both communities are counting their losses.

In Rivers, the explosion happened around 5pm along Old Bori Road in Aleto. It reportedly followed a leak from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company.

Several victims were taken to hospitals. Stalls, a mechanic workshop, and parked vehicles were also affected.

A resident named Stanley claimed that the pipeline had been leaking for about three weeks before the explosion. He said, "The pipeline has caused injuries and damaged properties. This pipeline has been leaking for about three weeks before the explosion today."

Stanley added that community leaders had informed the company about the leak but said no proper action was taken to fix it. He mentioned that most of those affected were passers-by and people doing business in the area.

Daniel Chuma, the Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, visited the explosion site. He said he had written to the company about the leak and petitioned relevant authorities, but no effective action was taken to stop it.

Chuma stated, "There was a leakage on another section of the Nigeria Gas Company. We wrote to them and submitted a petition to NOSDRA and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, copying the police, for urgent intervention."

He added, "Today, we were called to an explosion involving the same pipeline of the Nigeria Gas Company, which has destroyed over 50 houses and cars, with many casualties. People have been rushed to the hospital."

Chuma said no company representative had visited the site at the time of his statement. He noted that community members had cordoned off the area with barrier tape and advised residents to stay away to prevent more incidents.

Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre called on the relevant authorities to help the affected community. The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said the fire was still burning when they issued their statement. He noted that surrounding buildings had been affected.

Dr Dumnamene added that some residents had reportedly been hospitalized, but the organization had not confirmed any deaths. He stated, "Members of the Advocacy Centre’s volunteers who visited the scene for independent verification confirmed the presence of officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the ground."

YEAC-Nigeria urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to identify the facility operator and conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site. They also called for relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to be invoked where necessary.

In Edo State, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, the Federal Road Safety Corps State Commander, said he could not confirm reports of deaths from the tanker explosion in Oluku. He mentioned that security agencies and emergency responders were still at the scene, working to put out the fire and manage the aftermath.

When asked about reports of deaths, Bedford said authorities had yet to receive confirmed information. He said, "For now, we have not got any information on that. I think while they are clearing and evacuating the debris, if it is true, we might get to know about it."

He mentioned that there were 11 casualties. Bedford condemned the act of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, calling it dangerous. He also claimed that some people ignored warnings from security personnel.

One market woman in Oluku, known as Madam Grace, said her son was among those burned in the incident. She said, "This is a very bad situation. My son was not scooping fuel, but the fire caught where he was standing. I pray that he recovers from this."

Grace added that many traders had suffered huge financial losses. She said, "Most of us traders have lost millions."

A worker at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, who identified himself as Gideon, said his daughter’s shop was completely burnt. He added that she escaped injury because she had locked up the shop after noticing what was happening.