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Things to know about fresh explosion in Rivers State
Respite is yet to return to Rivers State as another explosion reportedly struck the Soku oil facility in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on Sunday, days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state.
The latest incident affected the Soku facility, operated by Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas Limited, marking the third in a series of attacks on critical infrastructure in Rivers State.
Text messages and calls to the company’s spokesperson, Andy Odeh, had yet to be answered at the time of filing this report.
Commenting on the reported explosion, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said: “We have yet to receive any report of such an incident.”
An insider at NLNG stated that the company would address the situation on Monday.
However, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, confirmed the explosion on Sunday.
“
An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to access. The fire is still ongoing at the time of this report, as shown in short videos shared with the organisation by youth volunteers of YEAC-Nigeria,” the centre said.
In sharp contrast, the Soku Kingdom has dismissed reports of an explosion as false.
The General Secretary of Soku Kingdom, Mr Witness Alasia, stated that it was a fire outbreak, not an explosion, along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji right of way, adding that the Soku gas plant—one of the major feeders of the nation’s economy—remains safe and fully operational.
“On behalf of the leadership of the Soku Kingdom, I write to debunk the falsehood circulating on social media that there was an explosion at the Soku Gas Plant. It is disheartening and worrisome that people would mischievously misinform the public with a baseless and untrue story.”
“The public should disregard this misleading and unverified report. We take this opportunity to assure everyone that Soku and its satellite communities are safe and calm. Regards,” part of the statement read.
The incident comes just days after an explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in the Bodo, Gokana, and Omwawriwa communities in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Similarly, on 19 March 2025, a fire broke out at the Port Harcourt refinery.
Recall that on 18 March 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and announced the suspension of democratically elected authorities.
On Thursday, the National Assembly approved Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
The sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has since assumed office following his appointment by Tinubu.
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Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.
Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.
The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.
The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.
During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.
The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.
Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.
“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.
“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.
“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

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Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos
Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.
According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.
He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.
“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.
The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said
The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.
“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said
According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.
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Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion
A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.
The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.
“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.
The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.
The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.
Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.
A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.

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