Gas explosion rocks Rivers Community

Gas explosion has rocked Oduoha Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State .

Our reporter learnt that the explosion occurred on Tuesday wfrom a ruptured gas pipeline that runs through the community to a terminal in Bonny and had heavy impact on the environment.

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Our reporter also learnt that two separate gas pipes operated by Nigeria Liquidify Natural Gas and Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, runs on the same line where the incident happened, making it difficult to ascertain who the operator of the affected line was at press time.

However, as at 12 pm, the vibration and leakage was still raging as the community panic over the development.

The Paramount Ruler of Oduoha, His Royal Highness, Chief Ferdinand Ogbuehi, said that the explosion caused panic in the community, noting that many residents have already fled for safety.

He said: “From 4am till now the people have been living in fear. The vibration has sent many packing. We are not at rest at all. We have not seen this type of thing before. We want the Government to come and see what is happening.

“We have announced to the people that no body should go there. We don’t want fire outbreak from that place to destroy our community. We want the Government to come. We are afraid going closer to the place.”

The Community Development Committee Chairman of Oduoha, Sir Napoleon Ewule, noted that the community has contacted the two companies whose facilities were on the line, adding that they have promised a visit to ascertain whose facilities was affected.

He said: “About 4:12am, we heard an explosion. We were thinking that aeroplane has crashed in our community.

“I called on the youths and we went there to see what happened. As we got there we noticed the explosion. The effect is much. We came back and told our people to avoid the area. We called on NLNG to find out what is happening.

“We have two pipelines there one for Agip and another for NLNG. When they come for inspection we will know who owns the one that exploded.

“The effect is much in the community now. The smell and the pepperish heat. The Government should come in and stop the leakage.”

Our reporter could not NLNG for comment as of press time.