No fewer than thirty persons have reportedly died in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, an illegal oil refining site was caught up in an inferno that happened due to an explosion.
The fire, according to a source from the community, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emanated from a local refining cooking pot, which was connected to a pit where several persons were scooping crude oil extracted from a pipeline.
Africa Today News, New York gathered from very reliable sources that some of the victims burnt beyond recognition, while others died before they were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
The incident was said to have occurred late last night.
Read Also: Troops Expose Illegal Oil Bunkerers’ Camp In Imo, Delta
The Rivers State Police Command is yet to make an official statement about the tragic incident.
In another report, as part of their crackdown on saboteurs of the oil sector in Southern Nigeria, troops of the Nigerian Army has uncovered oil bunkerers in Imo and Delta states.
According to a statement last Thursday by Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment conducting anti-oil theft operations on Monday 28 August 2023 cracked down on an oil thieves’ camp in Obokofia Community in Imo State.
He said that in the crackdown, the vigilant troops intercepted 15 sacks and 13 Jerry cans of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in the camp.
The troops also reportedly recovered two pumping machines, three power generators, one hose and a toolbox used for hacking into oil pipelines.
Nwachukwu added that in a similar operation, also conducted on 28 August 2023, troops of 3 Battalion clamped down on an active illegal oil refining site containing three cooking ovens and six reservoirs at Enokora Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.