PORTHARCOURT: Authorities in Rivers State have apprehended two individuals in connection with the Trans-Niger Pipeline explosion that occurred in the Bodo community. An investigation has also been launched to determine the cause of the incident.
The explosion, which tore through the mangrove late Monday night, has since been extinguished. However, the Rivers State Police Command has taken some individuals in for questioning as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the fire. As part of this effort, two persons have been detained for questioning to ascertain whether sabotage was involved,” said the police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Iroko, in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Iringe-Iroko, security operatives on night patrol noticed the fire at the border between Kpor and Bodo communities. They promptly alerted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which operates the pipeline.
“SPDC immediately activated its safety protocols, including shutting down the affected pipeline,” she added. “Thanks to a swift response, the situation is now under control, with no further threat to residents or the environment.
Videos of the explosion showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky as flames engulfed the mangrove. Later, some community members were seen near the site, monitoring the aftermath of the incident.
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Minister of Regional Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, stated that while details of the explosion remain unclear, investigations are ongoing.
“As of now, we have yet to determine the exact cause of the explosion, but inquiries are underway,” Momoh said during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics.
He assured that a comprehensive report on the incident would be provided in due time.
The Trans-Niger Pipeline is a critical infrastructure for transporting crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State
