Explosions in Rivers and Edo states have left dozens of people injured, damaged homes and businesses, and triggered fresh concerns about public safety, following a gas pipeline explosion in Eleme and a tanker fire in Benin City.

In Rivers State, at least 20 people were reportedly injured when a gas pipeline exploded in Aleto community, Eleme Local Government Area, on Thursday evening. The incident, which occurred around 5pm along Old Bori Road, also reportedly damaged more than 50 houses, vehicles, shops and a mechanic workshop.

In Edo State, a tanker explosion in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, left 11 people with varying degrees of burns, including a pregnant woman. Five deaths were feared, although the Federal Road Safety Corps said it had not received confirmed information about any fatalities as of Thursday evening.

The injured victims in Edo were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for treatment, while emergency responders continued efforts to contain the fire and manage the aftermath.

In Aleto, residents alleged that the explosion followed a gas leak from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Gas Company. Some victims were reportedly rushed to hospitals as the fire damaged properties and disrupted business activities in the community.

A resident identified as Stanley claimed that the pipeline had been leaking for about three weeks before the explosion.

He alleged that community leaders had notified the company about the leak but that adequate action had not been taken to prevent the incident.

Stanley said many of those affected were people passing through the area or conducting business nearby.

The Leader of the Eleme Legislative Council, Daniel Chuma, also alleged that he had written to the company and petitioned relevant authorities over the pipeline leak before the explosion occurred.

Chuma said the council had contacted the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the police, seeking urgent intervention and a joint investigation.

According to him, the latest explosion involved the same pipeline network that had previously raised concerns among residents.

He expressed concern over the reported destruction of homes and vehicles and the number of people injured in the incident.

Chuma further alleged that no representative of the Nigeria Gas Company had visited the scene by the time he spoke. He said community members had cordoned off the affected area with barrier tape and advised residents to keep their distance to prevent further danger.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) called on relevant authorities to intervene and support affected residents.

Its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said the fire was still burning when the organisation issued its statement and that nearby buildings had been affected.

Dumnamene said volunteers who visited the scene confirmed the presence of officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. However, he noted that the organisation had not independently confirmed reports of fatalities.

YEAC-Nigeria urged NOSDRA to establish the operator responsible for the facility and conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to determine the cause and circumstances of the explosion. It also called for the relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, to be applied where appropriate.

In Edo State, emergency responders were also working to contain the aftermath of the tanker explosion in Oluku, where traders and residents suffered injuries and significant property losses.

The Federal Road Safety Corps State Commander, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said security agencies and emergency services, including the police, military, federal fire service and state fire service, were at the scene on Thursday evening.

Bedford said the authorities had recorded 11 casualties but could not confirm reports that five people had died.

He explained that information about possible fatalities would become clearer as emergency workers cleared debris and evacuated affected areas.

The FRSC commander also condemned the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers. He alleged that some people ignored warnings from security personnel and attacked officers attempting to move them away from the danger zone.

Bedford said the corps would intensify public awareness campaigns through town hall meetings, churches and other community platforms to discourage fuel scooping and reduce the risk of similar tragedies.

Among those affected in Oluku was a market woman identified as Madam Grace, whose son reportedly suffered burns during the incident.

Grace said her son was not scooping fuel when the fire reached the spot where he was standing. She expressed hope that he would recover and described the incident as devastating for traders in the area.

She added that many traders had lost goods and property worth millions of naira.

A worker at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, identified as Gideon, also said his daughter’s shop was completely burnt. He explained that she escaped injury because she had locked up the shop after noticing the developing danger.

The two incidents have raised concerns over the safety of communities located near gas infrastructure and the risks associated with tanker accidents and fuel-related fires.

While residents in Rivers have called for an investigation into the alleged pipeline leak, the full casualty figures and extent of the damage in both states remain subject to confirmation by the relevant authorities.