An explosion at a residential residence where illegally refined petroleum products were stored in Rivers State’s Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) has killed at least five people.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed an explosion and fire on Saturday, April 26.
In a statement made on Saturday, the Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, stated, “The incident occurred at about 11 a.m., claiming the lives of five persons—four females and one male—who were burned beyond recognition.”
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Call for Investigation and Caution.
Fyneface encouraged authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and warned communities and youngsters against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refining, and dealing in illegally refined petroleum products.
He went on: “We warn residents against home storage of illegal petroleum products to avoid ugly incidents of this nature.”
Fyneface also renewed calls for the Federal Government to legalize artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta by establishing the planned Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) or Modular Refineries for Artisanal Refiners to assist mitigate such disasters.
Police Confirm the Incident.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, also confirmed the explosion.
Speaking with Vanguard, Iringe-Koko stated, “It was a condensate kerosene product that was held for sale. Someone placed a lighted stove close to where the product was stored to cook Indomie, which started the fire.”
She said that four people were verified dead as a result of the explosion and stated that “the police will investigate the matter.”
