In Rivers State’s Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), at least five people were killed in an explosion at a domestic home where illegally processed petroleum products were stored.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) reported 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 burnt beyond recognition.”
Call for investigation and caution.
Fyneface requested authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident and warning locals and youngsters against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refining, and illegal petroleum product trading.
He continued: “We warn residents against home storage of illegal petroleum products to avoid ugly incidents of this nature.”
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Fyneface also reinforced efforts for the Federal Government to legalize artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta through the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) or Modular Refineries for Artisanal Refiners to help mitigate such disasters.
Police Confirm Incident.
Grace Iringe-Koko, Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, also confirmed the explosion.
Speaking to Vanguard, Iringe-Koko stated, “It was a condensate kerosene product that was stored to be sold. Someone brought a lighted burner near where the product was housed to cook Indomie, which started the fire.”
She stated that four people were killed in the explosion and assured that “the police will investigate the matter.”
