Eleme Community Calls for Emergency After Gas Explosion

Residents of Aleto community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State are assessing the damage after a gas pipeline explosion on Thursday injured more than 20 individuals and destroyed over 50 houses and several vehicles. Following the explosion, security operatives from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Police Force cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties.

Chief Obarilomate Ollor, Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, urged the federal government to declare an emergency and direct the Nigeria Gas Company, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, to investigate the incident. He expressed concern over the condition of the pipeline, noting a previous gas leak in the same area weeks prior.

Ollor emphasized the need for a comprehensive assessment of the pipeline network and potential replacement of aging infrastructure. King Philip Obele, the paramount ruler of Eleme, described the incident as a significant setback for the community, which is surrounded by critical oil and gas infrastructure.