By Ade Oyeyemi
At least 20 people have been injured and about 50 houses destroyed following a gas pipeline explosion in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, amid allegations that the pipeline had leaked for weeks before the incident.
The explosion occurred around 5pm on Thursday along Old Bori Road, involving a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company.
Several victims were reportedly taken to hospitals for treatment, while the blast also damaged shops and a mechanic workshop where vehicles were parked.
A resident, who identified himself as Stanley, alleged that the pipeline had been leaking for about three weeks before it exploded.
He said the leak had already caused injuries and property damage, adding that community leaders had informed the company about the situation without any effective intervention.
According to him, many of those affected by the explosion were passers-by and people conducting business in the area.
The Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, Daniel Chuma, who visited the scene, also alleged that the company had been notified about the pipeline leak and that petitions had been submitted to relevant authorities.
Chuma said the council had written to the Nigeria Gas Company and petitioned the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, with the police also copied, seeking urgent intervention.
He said the community had requested a joint investigation into the leak but was unaware of what action was taken before the explosion occurred.
“We asked for a joint investigation. We don’t know what they did before they left. Today, we were called to an explosion at the same Nigeria Gas Company pipeline that has destroyed over 50 houses and cars, with many casualties. People have been rushed to the hospital,” Chuma said.
He further claimed that no representative of the company had visited the scene following the explosion.
Chuma said community members had cordoned off the affected area with barrier tape and warned residents to keep their distance to prevent further casualties.
He added that people who initially rushed to the scene had been advised to move away because of the risk of another incident.
Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre confirmed the explosion and said several victims had been hospitalised.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, called on the Rivers State Government, the Federal Government and relevant environmental agencies to provide urgent assistance to affected residents.
He described the incident as serious and urged the authorities responsible for monitoring gas infrastructure and responding to environmental emergencies to intervene.
Dumnamene also said the fire was still burning when his organisation issued its statement, raising concerns about the safety of residents and the possibility of further damage.
The cause of the explosion and the circumstances surrounding the reported pipeline leak had yet to be officially established in the information available at the time of reporting.
