An explosion involving an oil facility has occurred in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It is, however, not clear if the incident, which took place in Monday – March 17 – night happened as an attack or an ordinary bunkering incident, or whether the explosion came in fulfilment of the threat by Niger Delta youths to blow up oil pipelines if the Rivers political crisis was not resolved with Fubara with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s job intact.
Reports said the explosion of a section of the Trans-Niger pipeline in Bodo community, which is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in the state, occurred late last night, but left residents of Bodo community in shock following the threats by militant groups to destroy oil installations in the state.
Two militant groups had given the threat as they warned the federal government against withholding the state’s allocation due to the lingering political crisis.
As at the time of filling this report, security authorities were yet to affirm the cause of the explosion, whether it is human interference or leakages.
Meanwhile, the affected section of the pipeline was still on fire with thick black smokes billowing into the atmosphere, confirming fears by some oil multinationals that attacks were expected should the crisis in Rivers State lead to impeachment.
Plot to remove the sitting governor has thickened even as some groups say nothing would happen.
But, fears are rife that blocking allocation plus trying to remove the first Governor from the riverine areas may lead to huge economic and social loss.
There has not been any reaction to the situation from government and security agencies.
The latest explosion targeted the highly vulnerable Trans-Niger pipeline costing N147 billion repair and protection.
It was gathered that attacks on the pipeline led to a prolonged shutdown which cost Nigeria $1 billion in oil revenue before it was reopened.
Explosions on oil facilities in Rivers State began a month ago following the deepening political crisis.
The first incident occurred in Bukuma oil field, followed by Cawthorne Channel in Bonny; now, it has moved to the most vulnerable sensitive section of the state, Ogoni, where the Trans-Niger pipeline passes to Bonny oil export terminal.
