Explosion rocks Trans-Niger pipeline in Rivers State

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed an explosion at the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of the state.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s Spokesperson, made the confirmation while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

Iringe-Koko said that details of the explosion were still sketchy, and assured that further information would be provided as investigations progressed.

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The explosion, which occurred midnight on Monday, damaged the pipeline transporting crude to the Bonny Terminal, a key crude oil export facility.

The TNP, formerly owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, was later sold to Aiteo Group, and has the capacity to produce 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Eyewitness reports revealed that the explosion impacted a main section of the pipeline, though the exact cause remains unknown.

The explosions came amid heightened political tensions, following the Rivers State House of Assembly’s issuance of report gross misconduct to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.