Police alert Rivers’ residents on planned destruction of expired explosives

Governor Siminilayi Fubara of Rivers State

The Rivers State Police Command has alerted residents of Kporghor Community about a planned destruction of expired explosive materials by Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited, urging them not to panic over loud explosions that will accompany the exercise.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said approval had been granted to Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited to render safe and destroy some explosive materials in its custody after they were examined by relevant experts and found to have expired.

According to the statement, the disposal exercise will take place from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10, 2026, at Kporghor Community in Tai Local Council Area of Rivers State.

The police said the operation would be carried out by a team of operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, Port Harcourt.

The command explained that the exercise involves rendering safe and destroying expired explosive materials in Halliburton’s custody and is being undertaken following an expert examination of the explosives.

The command assured residents that every precaution had been taken to avert any danger during the operation.

MEANWHILE, Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Managing Director of Heirs Energies Limited and its management team to appear before the House on Monday, July 20, 2026, over the company’s repeated refusal to honour invitations from its Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions.

The House warned that it would issue a warrant to compel the company’s attendance if it failed to appear, invoking Section 129 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers it to compel any person invited to appear before it to provide evidence.

The Assembly also urged Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited to pay N205.8 million in compensation to the B-Dere Community and other affected persons for environmental damage caused by an oil spill resulting from the company’s equipment failure.