The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two persons in connection with the explosion that rocked the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC,-operated Trans Niger Delta Pipeline.
The blast, which occurred on Monday night, set off a fierce fire in the mangrove area, but it has since been extinguished, preventing further environmental harm.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement that a “thorough investigation to determine the cause” of the explosion, which resulted in an inferno, has commenced.
Police are exploring all possibilities, including sabotage, as the cause of the blast. “The Rivers State Police Command is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, and two individuals have been taken into custody for questioning.
The investigation is ongoing to determine whether any malicious acts were involved,” Iringe-Iroko said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The explosion was first noticed by security personnel during their routine night patrol. Upon discovering the incident, they quickly alerted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which oversees the Trans-Niger Pipeline.
In response, SPDC enacted immediate safety protocols, including the shutdown of the affected pipeline, to mitigate the potential for further damage.
“Thanks to the swift action of both security forces and Shell, the situation was brought under control. There is no longer any threat to the residents or the environment,” Iringe-Iroko added, reassuring the public that the situation has been stabilized.
Videos circulating online following the blast show thick black smoke rising into the sky as flames consumed the mangrove area. Some local residents, visibly shaken, were seen near the scene attempting to monitor the damage, while others appeared to be offering assistance to authorities.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. The Minister of Regional Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, stated in an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics that while the details of the incident are still sketchy, an active investigation is underway. “At this moment, we have not gathered all the facts surrounding the explosion.
However, we are fully committed to uncovering the truth, and the investigation continues,” Momoh said.
Authorities have not ruled out any possibility, including sabotage, and are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the explosion.
Given the sensitive nature of the Trans-Niger Pipeline and its role in the region’s oil infrastructure, officials are taking all precautions to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the region’s oil infrastructure, which has been the target of similar attacks in the past.
As the investigation progresses, both local and federal authorities remain focused on uncovering the truth behind this destructive blast and ensuring justice for those affected.
