- Safiu Kehinde
Rivers Police Command have arrested two suspects over the Trans-Niger Pipeline explosion that rocked the Bodo community of the state.
NPO Reported that the residents of the community were thrown into a state of panic following the explosion which occurred on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.
A video which emerged on Tuesday morning showed thick black smoke billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove.
However, the spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command, Grace Iringe-Iroko, confirmed the arrest of the two suspects who, according to her, have been taken in for questioning over the incident.
“The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. In connection with this, two individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of efforts to uncover any potential act of sabotage,” the police spokesperson said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
She further disclosed that security operatives during a night patrol observed the incident which happened at the border of Kpor and Bodo communities and alerted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which operates the pipeline.
“The latter initiated necessary safety protocols, including shutting down the affected pipeline,
“As a result of swift intervention, the situation is now under control, and there is no further threat to residents or the environment.” Iringe-Koko said.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Lunchtime Politics programme, the Minister of Regional Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, said details of the incident are sketchy but investigations are ongoing over the explosion.
“Up till this moment, we have not been able to get clear details as to what caused that very explosion but investigations are going on,” he said.