0
0
At least 18 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to an explosion at an illegal oil refining site in the Ibaa community, located within the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State. The incident unfolded late on a Sunday night as members of the community were engaged in the illicit activity of scooping petroleum products.
According to a local source, the explosion occurred when one of the containers intended for the refinement of crude oil into finished products suddenly caught fire.
The exact count of casualties remains uncertain, as the community is unable to confirm the precise number, but it is believed that a significant number of individuals were present at the site.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has officially confirmed a tragic incident that occurred on Tuesday, revealing that a total of 18 individuals lost their lives in the tragic event.
In an official statement, NSCDC’s spokesperson, Olufemi Ayodele, expressed that the victims suffered such extensive burns that their identities were nearly impossible to discern. Furthermore, he disclosed that 25 additional individuals were rescued from the scene with various degrees of injuries. Ayodele also noted that initial investigations have pointed to the property’s owner, John Bodo, who himself sustained severe burns, and his son, Uche John Bodo, who tragically lost his life at the scene.
Among the identified victims, the NSCDC mentioned a pregnant woman and a young lady who had been eagerly preparing for her upcoming wedding ceremony next month.
It’s important to note that oil theft remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, which is an OPEC member and one of Africa’s leading petroleum producers.
