Former amnesty boss to N-Delta youths: Don’t allow anger dictate your actions, as another bomb blast rocks Rivers
Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd), former Presidential Amnesty boss, has cautioned youths in the Niger Delta region against allowing anger to dictate their actions.
He emphasised that President Tinubu is not a proponent of violence and urged the youths to refrain from unlawful acts that could harm lives and properties.
Also, the Commandant General RIVERINE SECURITY (Coast – Guard Of The Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to carefully consider the suspension of the Rivers State Governor to calm the heightened tensions and threats in the Niger Delta region.
This is as another explosion rocked gas facility in Rivers State on Sunday.
Commander Odumu in a statement on Sunday said these threats pose a significant risk to the nation’s economy.
According to him, militant groups are planning to attack federal government properties across Niger Delta states, while miscreants may exploit the situation to engage in criminal activities. This could lead to loss of life among innocent citizens and military personnel deployed for peacekeeping.
Commander Oduku assured that Riverine Security Officers are vigilant and ready to prevent unauthorized groups from engaging in illegal activities. They will work closely with the Nigerian Military and other security agencies to apprehend those involved in attacks on federal government properties and lives.
Captains Eric Foutoru and captain ThankGod Oprom, in charge of Rivers State waterways and Delta State, respectively, pledged their support to the military in calming the security situation in Rivers State and Niger Delta region in general.
Commander Oduku condemned the destruction of oil pipelines in Rivers State and Akwa Ibom, promising to bring perpetrators to justice.
He advised citizens of Rivers State and the Niger Delta to embrace peace and allow the law to take its course.
Meanwhile, barely a week after a major explosion on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, another blast occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
The explosion has further heightened concerns over the security of oil infrastructure in the region.
The latest explosion, confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), was reported on Sunday.
The grassroots NGO, with a strong presence in the Niger Delta, disclosed that its youth volunteers had alerted the organization about the early morning blast at the Soku oil facility, operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC-Nigeria revealed that an explosion, accompanied by fireballs, was heard and seen rising from the facility.
“The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the statement noted. However, the facility remains difficult to access, and the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown.
As the investigation continues, speculation surrounds the cause of the explosion. Possible causes mentioned include equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.
This marks the third such incident in the oil-rich Rivers State within a week, raising serious concerns about the state’s oil infrastructure security.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, followed by another in the Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
These incidents were referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, where he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, partly due to the repeated attacks on the region’s oil infrastructure.
In response to these attacks, the President suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing the governor’s failure to protect oil facilities.
YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the latest Soku explosion. The group urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure accountability.
“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” YEAC-Nigeria stressed in the statement, as they demanded swift action to address the escalating violence in the region.
