Tragedy struck in Rivers State as an explosion erupted at a location used for storing illegally refined petroleum products, leaving five people dead. The incident occurred in the Omoku area of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, with the victims reportedly burnt beyond recognition.
According to Naturenex, the blast, which ignited a fire that destroyed the affected building, involved four women and one man who lost their lives in the blaze.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, April 26, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) disclosed that the disaster took place in a building where illegal petroleum products were being kept.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Fyneface, described the extent of the damage caused by the explosion. He explained, “The inferno is said to have occurred in a house where people purchased and stored illegally refined petroleum products including condensate for resale in the area.”
Members of the YEAC-Nigeria youth volunteers network, operating under the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta in ONELGA, reported the incident to the organisation.
Providing further details, Fyneface said the explosion happened on Saturday morning, with five victims — four women and a man — perishing in the flames. He appealed to authorities for a thorough investigation into the incident while cautioning residents and young people in the region to avoid engaging in pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal refining, and the storage of illicit petroleum products.
In addition, Dr. Fyneface urged the federal administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, to consider formalising artisanal refining activities to curb the recurrence of such fatal accidents.
