By Ephraim Emmanuel
For worshippers and business owners in the pipeline corridor of Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, Thursday’s catastrophic pipeline explosion was a disaster waiting to happen.
Victims and local clerics have blamed the incident on corporate negligence, revealing that the ruptured pipeline had been showing visible danger signs for weeks before finally blowing up.
A Disaster Foretold: Clues Ignored for Weeks
Apostle Emmanuel Mosakua, Senior Pastor of a church affected by the blast, disclosed that local residents had observed bubbling and boiling activity along the pipeline route days prior. According to him, church services were hurriedly brought to a close around 2:00 PM on Thursday out of safety concerns.
“Less than 30 minutes after we closed service, we heard a heavy blasting sound,” Apostle Mosakua recounted. “It came out with dust, mud, and water, shooting up like a geyser for over two hours. Mechanic shops around, nearby stores, and our church collections were heavily affected. Mud and stones rained down on buildings, though thankfully, no fire or flames broke out.”
Corroborating this account, Pastor Sheriff Babona, presiding pastor of another affected ministry, stated that the pipeline had been leaking and emitting booming sounds for about three weeks. He noted that although some initial caution tape had been used to barricade the area, the operating company failed to take prompt remedial action.
Churches Wrecked, Properties Destroyed
The force of the eruption left a trail of extensive material destruction. Pastors and residents reported that church auditoriums were left in ruins, with instruments, plastic chairs, and tables smashed by flying debris and heavy mud. Surrounding houses, shops, and vehicles also suffered severe structural damage.
While multiple sources confirmed that no lives were lost during the explosion, some individuals sustained injuries while trying to flee for safety. Pastor Babona noted that a woman selling goods with her children sustained severe hand injuries while scrambling to escape the chaotic scene.
Blaming Corporate Negligence and Demanding Intervention
Furious over the incident, community leaders and clerics directed their anger at the pipeline operators, accusing them of gross negligence. They alleged that the company was fully aware of the warning signs and leaks for weeks but chose to ignore the impending danger to residents’ lives.
“This thing cannot happen in the Western world,” Pastor Babona lamented, calling on the Federal Government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and relevant authorities to come to the aid of displaced worshippers. “We don’t have a place of worship now. Members came yesterday and were crying. We are calling on the government to assist us so we can find a place to worship.”
Residents have also criticized the slow response of authorities in addressing the aftermath of the explosion, stressing that the area remains unsafe and requires urgent government intervention to forestall future occurrences.
