Group calls for probe after Rivers gas explosion survivor dies amid unresolved emissions

A 29-year-old woman, Joy Amos, who suffered severe burns in a gas explosion in Bille, Rivers State, has died amid concerns over continuing gas emissions in the community.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, said Ms Amos died on Tuesday, 22 September, after she was transferred to Port Harcourt for further treatment.

Her death has renewed concerns about the reported gas emissions affecting residents of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, where the crisis has persisted since October 2025.

CAPPA called for an independent investigation into Ms Amos’s death, the source of the gas emissions and the government’s response to the situation.

How it started

According to the statement, the explosion occurred at about 8 a.m. on 3 September inside Ms Amos’s room at No. 18, Opu Ibiila Community.

The blast reportedly set part of the building on fire, shattered its windows and left her with extensive burns.

Ms Amos, an indigene of Ogoni, initially received treatment at a private clinic in Bille for about nine days. Her condition was reportedly improving before she was transferred to Port Harcourt on 12 September.

The transfer followed a call from a person identified by community members as Ndubisi Akpu, who allegedly claimed to be from the Ministry of Health and said the government would take over her treatment.

CAPPA said residents learnt of Ms Amos’s death on Tuesday afternoon and that her remains were being taken to Ogoni.

The organisation demanded an autopsy and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The reported transfer arrangement and the cause of death could not be independently verified by PREMIUM TIMES.

CAPPA said the room where the explosion occurred continued to produce a bubbling sound beneath its cemented floor, accompanied by a gas-like odour.

During a field visit to Bille on 6 July, the organisation noted gas emissions from wells, boreholes, residential compounds, waterways and school grounds.

It also said government investigations had reportedly detected elevated levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, as well as groundwater contamination and poor air quality.

According to CAPPA, residents have not received a comprehensive public explanation of the source of the emissions or a clear emergency response plan.

The organisation said the situation had exposed residents to continuing risks, including possible explosions, toxic gas inhalation and water contamination.

The latest incident follows an investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES in June into gas seepage in Bille.

The report detailed residents’ concerns about emissions from wells, boreholes, rivers and land surfaces. It also reported that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had commenced a technical investigation into the source and possible causes of the seepage.

The commission stated that geological and geotechnical analyses were ongoing.

A Federal delegation led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, visited Bille over the crisis. The delegation promised potable water, medical support, firefighting equipment and assistance with electricity supply.

NUPRC also said its preliminary assessment indicated contamination of the community’s first aquifer.

Other incidents reported

CAPPA said several other health and fire incidents had occurred in Bille amid the continuing emissions.

It stated that Mrs Tamunosiepribo Igani became dizzy and collapsed while walking to the waterside on 12 September. She reportedly fell into a ditch and sustained a serious leg injury.

The organisation also reported that Ms Deborah Adokiye Orlando, a teacher at State School One, Bille, collapsed while performing her duties on Tuesday morning.

CAPPA further reported two household fires. It said a fire broke out while Mrs Damiete Akinda was attempting to light a mosquito coil, and another incident on 7 September reportedly spread through Mrs Esther Dein’s home and destroyed substantial property.

The organisation did not establish that the reported health incidents and fires were caused by gas emissions.

It called for specialist treatment for Mrs Igani, medical assessment for Ms Orlando and free medical screening for residents, particularly children, pregnant women and older people.

CAPPA demands urgent action

CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, stated that Ms Amos’s death highlighted the need for immediate government intervention.

“Joy Amos did not have to die. Her death followed months of warnings, confirmed environmental hazards and repeated appeals for government intervention,” Ms Ibeh said.

She explained that Bille still lacked a comprehensive emergency plan, a publicly identified coordinating authority and a clear timeline for containing the emissions.

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“The government cannot continue to treat the lives of citizens as expendable,” she said.

CAPPA urged the federal and Rivers State governments, petroleum and environmental regulators, the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant institutions to establish a coordinated emergency response.

Its demands included hazard mapping, the evacuation of unsafe households and public facilities, continuous testing of air, water and soil, and free medical screening for residents.

The organisation also raised concerns about reports that some residents were collecting emerging gas to power generators or digging around their homes in search of gas outlets.

It warned that such activities could expose residents to explosions and poisoning.

CAPPA called for alternative electricity and cooking energy for affected households, residents’ participation in investigations and remediation, and compensation for those affected.

It also demanded that authorities publicly identify the institutions responsible for coordinating the response and provide a timeline for investigation, medical intervention and evacuation where necessary.

Ms Ibeh warned that further inaction could result in more deaths and injuries.

“We would love to be proved wrong, but the reality is that human beings are living amid uncontrolled and deadly gas emissions,” she said.

At the time of filing this report, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Health and NUPRC had not commented on the death of Mrs Amos.