By Hauwa Ali
An illegal oil refinery in Nigeria’s southern state of Imo has exploded, killing over a hundred people.
Local sources told Naturenews on Saturday, that the explosion occurred late Friday at a border community in Egbema local government area of the state.
The explosion was caused by illegal oil refining activities carried out by some indigenes.
The President-General of the Supreme Council of Oil and Gas Producing Areas in Imo, Chief Collins Ajie, confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate.
“It is unfortunate. A tragedy no one dreamt of where about 108 people got burnt beyond recognition due to illegal oil bunkering.
“The state and federal governments should step up efforts to stop this illegal bunkering because it has claimed many lives from Ohaji/Egbema and other Niger Delta area.
“It’s shocking to see these bodies lying down here. Most of them are breadwinners of their families. Most of them are young promising people, undergraduates and graduates,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, represented by the state commissioner for petroleum resources, Goodluck Opiah, during a visit the scene, expressed shock at the number of lives lost in carrying out the illegal business, while describing the incident as an unfortunate act of economic sabotage.
“At the moment, I can’t confirm the number of the deceased because many family members have removed the corpses of so many others.
“Apart from this calamity, the act has destroyed the aquatic life of the community. Our people before now are predominantly farmers and fishermen,” he said.
The governor who advised indigenes to avoid illegal oil bunkering, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the explosion.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Public Relations Officer in the state, Olufemi Ayodele, confirmed the incident, stating that over 100 persons died.
According to Ayodele, “The state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command, Abu Tambuwal, said the command condemns all acts of sabotaging the economy of the nation, environmental degradation, fire outbreak through oil bunkering activities.
“He affirmed that the command under his watch will not leave any stone unturned in the fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products, oil theft and illegal bunkering activities.
“While commiserating with the families and loved ones of the bereaved, Tambuwal commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police and the NSCDC who carried out emergency response, crowd control and adequate security in the environment to prevent nefarious activities by hoodlums.”