Blessing Iruoma
The Rivers State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has stated that 18 persons died in fire incident that occurred at an illegal oil refining site in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
The Nigerian Xpress gathered that the incident occurred late hours of Sunday, while the victims were trying to site a new location of illegal refinery at the aforementioned area.
A source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the fire incident occurred as a result of attempt by the illegal refiners to set up refinery at a location where the Government Security Agencies (GSA) and PINL had previously destroyed about two weeks ago.
The source revealed that most of the affected victims were people from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre LGA, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA.
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He narrated “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when fire caught. The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.
“Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 burnt to charcoal by the pit. About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have even rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, the NSCDC commandant in the state, Basil Igwebueze, speaking on the incident, condemned the activities of economic saboteurs engaging in vandalism of oil pipelines and operations of local refineries in the state.
He decried the unrepentant nature of those dealings illegally in petroleum products through construction of local refineries where syphoned crude oil is being processed locally. He noted that the Command has made meaningful efforts by destroying a good number of illegal oil bunkering site and oil dumps across the state.
Basil hinted that “the fire outbreak started at a very late hour hence, 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition while 25 injured persons were rescued”.
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According to him “From our preliminary findings it was gathered that the inferno was caused by a local refinery cooking pot constructed close to an oil reservoir which contained combustible materials, the burning temperature eventually became too high and the environment gutted fire.
We also gathered that the cooking pot belong to one Mr. John Bodo who sustained severe fire injuries while his son, Uche John Bodo a fresh graduate died on the spot.
“It is also lamentable to relay that most of the victim were youths; then a pregnant woman and a young lady getting ready for her marriage ceremony next month were all casualties”.
While condoling with the affected families, the NSCDC commandant warned those operating local refineries in some communities across the State, to desist from such act.
He said that the negative impact such activities portend is tantamount to irreparable loss. “Therefore, critical stakeholders must align and vehemently fight against Illegal Oil bunkering activities in Rivers State”.