Explosion on Thursday evening rocked Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, injuring 20 persons and razing 50 houses.
The incident happened after a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company ruptured along Old Bori Road in Aleto.
Many victims were said to be rushed to hospitals, while stalls and a mechanic workshop, where cars were parked, were affected by the explosion.
The Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, Daniel Chuma, who visited the scene, confirmed the incident, stating that he had written to the company about the leak and petitioned relevant authorities, but no concrete action was taken to stop it.
According to Chuma,
“There was a leakage on another section of the Nigeria Gas Company. We wrote to them and submitted a petition to NOSDRA and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, copying the police for urgent intervention.
“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.”
Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, appealed to relevant authorities to intervene and support affected residents.
