An explosion suspected to have been triggered by illegally refined petroleum products has claimed the lives of five people in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, sending shockwaves through the community.
The horrifying incident, which occurred around 11am on Saturday, April 26, erupted in a residential building where illicit petroleum products were reportedly being stored. The explosion engulfed the structure in a fiery inferno, killing four women and one man, all of whom were burnt beyond recognition.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the tragedy in a statement. Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, revealed that the fire originated from a site where illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, were hoarded for resale.
“The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has received and confirmed reports of an explosion and fire incident at a storage of illegally refined petroleum products in Omoku,” Dumnamene said. “The inferno broke out in a residential house where these hazardous materials were being stored without regard for human life.”
Providing further insight, the One Million Youth Volunteers Network corroborated that the deadly blast happened while some residents were conducting everyday activities, turning a typical Saturday into a nightmare.
Reports indicate that the tragedy was sparked by a seemingly innocent act. Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, disclosed that the ignition occurred when a resident attempted to prepare noodles using a cooking stove inside the building saturated with highly inflammable condensate.
“What really caused the fire was that a resident brought a cooking stove to the place and was preparing noodles, which ignited the fire,” Iringe-Koko explained. “She and three other women, along with a man who came to buy illegally refined kerosene, were all burnt beyond recognition. Tragically, none survived. Investigations are ongoing.”
The devastating incident has reignited the debate over illegal oil refining activities rampant in the Niger Delta region. Dr. Dumnamene seized the moment to renew calls on the federal government to address the issue proactively.
“We once again urge the government to legalize artisanal refineries through the activation of the July 27, 2020 proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) or support the establishment of modular refineries for local refiners,” Dumnamene said. “Such measures would help curb these recurring preventable tragedies that continue to claim innocent lives.”
As families mourn and investigations deepen, the Omoku community is left grappling with the painful aftermath of a catastrophe that underscores the lethal consequences of unregulated oil activities in the region.
PIONEER NEWS 