Explosion rocks Rivers Community after crude Oil Pipeline ruptures, Injures 20, razes 50 houses (video)

An explosion occurred on Thursday evening, October 15 in the Aleto community of Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, leaving 20 people injured and destroying approximately 50 houses.

The blast was triggered by a ruptured pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company situated along Old Bori Road in Aleto. Numerous victims sustained severe injuries and have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Several commercial stalls and a local mechanic workshop containing parked vehicles were also consumed by the fire.

Crude Oil Pipeline Ruptures in Eleme, Rivers State

 

A crude oil pipeline rupture has been reported in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

 

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, along the Trans-Niger Pipeline, which transports crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal.

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Daniel Chuma, Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, inspected the disaster site and confirmed that local authorities had previously alerted the company and petitioned regulatory bodies regarding a prior gas leak, though no proactive measures were taken.

"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," Chuma stated. "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."