Rivers Police Urge Calm as Halliburton Destroys Expired Explosives

The Rivers State Police Command has issued a public advisory to residents, particularly those in Kporghor Community within the Tai Local Government Area and its surroundings, regarding a scheduled exercise involving the disposal of expired explosive materials. Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited is set to carry out this operation.

According to a statement released by the police, these materials, currently held by Halliburton, have undergone expert examination and have been officially confirmed as expired. Consequently, the Command has advised the inhabitants of Kporghor and the wider public against panicking should they hear loud detonations during the process. The police have given assurances that all necessary safety precautions are firmly in place to avert any potential hazards.

ASP Blessing Agabe, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, conveyed this information in a statement issued on Monday evening. Agabe detailed that the disposal exercise is slated to run from Wednesday to Friday of the current week, with a specialised team from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit overseeing the operation.

The official statement from the Command read: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that approval has been granted to Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited to render safe and destroy some explosive materials in its custody, which have been examined by relevant experts and found to have expired.” It further stated, “This exercise will be carried out from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10, 2026, by a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) operatives in Port Harcourt at Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

The statement concluded by urging, “The general public, especially residents of Kporghor Community, are hereby advised not to panic if they hear loud explosions during the exercise, as every necessary precautionary measure has been put in place to avert any danger.”

Reports indicate that trained specialists are essential for the destruction of expired explosive materials due to their heightened volatility and unpredictable nature as they degrade. Over time, the chemical components within these explosives can break down or crystallise, significantly elevating the danger of accidental blasts or the leakage of hazardous chemicals. Thus, controlled disposal procedures are crucial for ensuring public safety.