Rivers: Group Links TNP Explosion to Political Sabotage

The Niger Delta Intelligentsia Team (NDIT) has suggested that the explosion at the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) on Monday night in Rivers State is linked to the ongoing political crisis in the region.

The blast, which occurred in Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area, resulted in a significant oil spill and an accompanying fire. The explosion is feared to have occurred amidst threats from certain Niger Delta militant groups and individuals opposed to attempts by political factions to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the state’s political upheaval.

Though the cause of the explosion remains unconfirmed, NDIT strongly believes it was a politically motivated attack.

NDIT General Secretary, Nse Victor Udoh, speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, expressed his suspicion that the explosion was linked to political tensions, despite limited information about the incident. He pointed out that for over a year, there had been no reported incidents on the TNP.

He said, “We all know that for about a year now, there have been no incidents on the TNP. Recently, however, there have been threats of vandalism and attacks on oil facilities. It’s like when the owl cries at night and the baby dies in the morning—naturally, people will point fingers at the owl. I believe this is a politically motivated incident, not just a normal occurrence.”

Regarding the explosion’s location, which was not near where the threats had been issued, Udoh argued that the Niger Delta is a closely interconnected region where people move and interact freely. “That someone wants to respond politically and do it in an area where it might be harder to pinpoint them does not mean we should ignore the political context,” he said.

He continued, “Nobody specifically said they would blow up a pipeline in Bayelsa or Gbegena. The threats were about pipelines being attacked somewhere in the Niger Delta. And this incident, which is very significant in Rivers State, suggests a strong political motive. It’s important for the security agencies to be more vigilant about our national oil assets.”

Udoh called on security forces to be proactive in responding to threats, regardless of their origin, and not to undermine the progress made in reducing pipeline incidents over the past year. “If there has been less infraction over the past year, it’s because of community engagement and trust-building. Now, with an incident like this, we urge security agencies to be vigilant and address any threats seriously,” he concluded.