The Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), a human and environmental rights organisation, has called for an urgent investigation into the October 15 gas pipeline explosion in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, and appropriate remedies for affected residents.
The explosion reportedly caused injuries and extensive damage to residential buildings, businesses, vehicles, shops and other property.
In a statement made available to this publication on October 22, 2026, the organisation said its visits to the community on October 16 and 18 revealed the extent of the destruction and raised serious questions about the handling of an alleged gas leak before the incident.
The statement was signed by Dr. Prince Ekpere, Environmental and Resource Justice Manager of Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action).
“Residents reported multiple casualties, but the total number of injured persons and the full extent of property and livelihood losses remain unknown,” the statement said.
According to Social Action, residents claimed that the pipeline had been leaking for more than two weeks before the explosion, accompanied by a persistent hissing sound and gas escaping from the ground.
The organisation said residents also reported that, on the morning of the explosion, gas was bubbling through rainwater. Personnel believed to be from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) were said to have visited the area before the incident and marked off the affected section with caution tape.
Community members further alleged that they had submitted complaints and petitions to government authorities, including the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and invited media organisations to draw attention to the danger.
Social Action said these accounts raised critical questions about what the pipeline operator and relevant authorities knew about the reported leak, how complaints were handled and what measures were taken to prevent the explosion.
“If warnings were received before the incident, it is necessary to determine whether they were investigated promptly and whether appropriate measures were taken to protect residents and prevent escalation of the situation,” the organisation stated.
It said its field visits also revealed the vulnerability of residents and businesses located close to oil and gas infrastructure, with damage recorded to homes, a mechanic workshop, vehicles, shops, stalls and vegetation.
The organisation noted that traders had lost goods and working capital, while workshops and other businesses suffered damage. Vegetation, cash crops and other economic resources were also reportedly affected.
According to Social Action, the losses threaten not only residents’ immediate welfare but also their ability to earn a living.
“These are not merely property losses. They raise concerns about the protection of life and health, the safety of homes and livelihoods, and the responsibility of operators and public institutions to address risks that threaten nearby communities,” it said.
The organisation maintained that environmental justice required that affected residents receive adequate information, the damage be properly documented and appropriate remedies be pursued.
While acknowledging the emergency response that brought the fire under control, Social Action said more needed to be done to establish the cause of the explosion and address its consequences.
It noted that Indorama’s fire service reportedly responded to the incident and acknowledged the visit of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) to the community on October 17.
“However, extinguishing the fire and visiting the community are only parts of the response. The cause of the explosion, the handling of the reported leak, the extent of the losses and the measures required to prevent a recurrence must still be addressed,” the statement added.
Social Action said it identified the affected pipeline during its October 18 visit as belonging to NGIC, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd.
The organisation consequently called on NGIC, NNPC Ltd, NOSDRA, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the explosion and the reported leak preceding it.
It urged the authorities to establish the cause of the incident, determine the condition of the pipeline before the explosion and disclose what was known about the reported leak, including the actions taken following complaints and any prior inspection.
It also called on NOSDRA and other agencies that received petitions to disclose when the complaints were received, the steps taken and the outcomes.
Social Action further demanded the public release of any Joint Investigation Visit report, if one was conducted, alongside other relevant investigation findings.
On the impact of the explosion, the organisation urged the authorities to establish the full number of casualties and document losses involving homes, businesses, vehicles, farms and other sources of livelihood.
It said affected residents should be informed about available medical assistance, compensation where applicable and other avenues for obtaining appropriate remedies.
The group also called for a comprehensive review of pipeline safety in Aleto, including an assessment of the proximity of residential buildings and businesses to the pipeline corridor and compliance with applicable safety requirements.
It urged the authorities to take immediate steps to secure any remaining hazards and determine whether the explosion had caused environmental contamination or other damage requiring assessment and remediation.
The organisation said the findings of such assessments and any necessary follow-up measures should be communicated to the community.
Warning against treating the incident as an isolated emergency, Social Action said the reported leak and earlier complaints made it imperative to examine whether systems for detecting hazards, responding to community concerns and protecting residents living near pipelines had functioned effectively.
It called on the responsible institutions to act promptly, make their findings public and ensure that affected residents were not left to bear the losses without appropriate support or a clear path to remedy.
“The people of Aleto deserve answers, effective protection and concrete measures to prevent a recurrence,” the organisation said.
