At least 20 people have reportedly been injured and about 50 houses destroyed following a gas pipeline explosion in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, triggering calls for an investigation into the incident and urgent assistance for affected residents.

The explosion occurred at about 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, along Old Bori Road. Reports said the blast involved a pipeline identified by residents and local officials as belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company, although the facility operator and exact cause of the explosion require official confirmation. 

The incident reportedly damaged residential buildings, business stalls and a mechanic workshop, including vehicles parked within the premises. Several injured people were taken to hospitals for treatment as the fire spread to surrounding properties.

A resident identified as Stanley told journalists that the pipeline had allegedly been leaking for about three weeks before the explosion. He claimed community leaders had alerted the company to the situation but that adequate measures were not taken to address the reported danger. The allegation has not been independently established.

The Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, Daniel Chuma, said he had written to the company about the leak and that petitions had also been submitted to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, with the police copied. He said the community had requested a joint investigation before the explosion occurred. 

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) also called for urgent intervention by the Rivers and Federal Governments and relevant regulatory agencies. Its executive director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said volunteers had visited the scene and urged NOSDRA to identify the facility operator and conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion. 

YEAC-Nigeria said it had not independently confirmed any fatalities at the time of its statement and that the cause of the explosion remained unverified. The organisation called for the relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to be applied where appropriate.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of oil and gas infrastructure near residential communities. An official investigation is needed to determine the cause, establish whether earlier reports of a leak were received and acted upon, identify the responsible operator and assess the full extent of the damage and injuries.