35 roasted to death in Rivers illegal refinery
About 35 persons have been burnt to death by fire that engulfed a site of an illegal oil refinery in Rivers State.
It was gathered that the tragedy occurred at Ibaa Community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
The fire was said to have broken out late Sunday night when over 45 persons were gathered at the time to transact illegal oil business.
A source from the community, who spoke in confidence, said some of his cousins and a wife to one of them died in the incident.
“My community has been thrown into mourning. My cousins and a wife to one of my cousins went there too for some business but died,” he said
Another source, Emmanuel Daniel, said the victims went to the area to trade on the petroleum product when the engulfed the site.
Daniel said that people from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were affected by the fire.
Daniel said: “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when fire caught up with them
“The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.
“Many Isiokpo and Oduoha people, and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 burnt to charcoal by the pit.
“About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have been rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”
A video showed charred remains of children, men and women, who were victims of the incident, littering the scene of the incident.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) promised to get more information about the development.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, said it was unfortunate that some youths were still engaging in the illicit trade despite warnings and public advocacy.
Lloyd appealed to traditional rulers in the area to speak out about and discourage such criminal activities within their domains.
He said: “It is unfortunate that people who have been misguided would lose their lives in that kind of dastardly manner in Ibaa.
“We have said this for the umpteenth time and anybody who is in Rivers State will bear me witness thet there cannot be any short cut to wealth.
“I also have said to traditional rulers that they have a duty. It is not just to be given recognition, that they have a duty to expose criminal elements within their neighbourhood. “
The council chair identified Oblle, Rukuni and Ndele as the other communities where illegal oil refining activities had persisted despite warnings.
He added: “This same activity is currently going on in Rukuni, going on in Ndele. It is going on in Obelle and for All these I have raised the alarm to security agencues.
“It is not as if the security agent or agencies are not aware of what is going on. I have always ask a simple question how do these people transport this crude?
“There is an army formation in Ibaa. In fact, there they even fenced up the road. So how do these people move?”
Earlier report:
Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno
The Rivers State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Basil Igwebueze has confirmed a pregnant woman, the son of the illegal refinery owner and an about-to-wed lady were among victims of fire that engulfed an illegal refinery at Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.
He said while the owner of the illegal refinery identified as John Bodo sustained severe injuries, his son, Uche Bodo, who just graduated from a tertiary institutions died at the spot.
Basil said: “The fire outbreak started at a very late hour hence 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition while 25 injured persons were rescued.
Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno
From our preliminary findings it was gathered that the inferno was caused by a local refinery cooking pot constructed close to an oil reservoir which contained combustible materials.
“The burning temperature eventually became too high and the environment gutted fire. We also gathered that the cooking pot belong to one Mr John Bodo who sustained severe fire injuries while his son, Uche John Bodo a fresh graduate died on the spot.
“It is also lamentable to relay that most of the victim were youths; then a pregnant woman and a young lady getting ready for her marriage ceremony next month were all casualties”.
Basil condemned the activities of economic saboteurs engaging in Vandalism of oil pipelines and operations of local refineries in the State.
He decried the unrepentant nature of those dealing illegally in petroleum products through construction and operation of local refineries.
35 roasted to death in Rivers illegal refinery
He said he he command had made meaningful efforts by destroying a good number of illegal oil bunkering sites and oil dumps across the state.
He said: “In collaborations with sister security agencies we have identified through sustained intelligence certain areas where local refineries were constructed and such illegal sites have been taken over by our Antivandal Squad to prevent further operations by perpetrators.
Pregnant woman, son of owner, about-to-wed lady died in Rivers illegal refinery inferno
“it is, however, disheartening that the more we dismantle these illegal refineries the more people engaged in such unscrupulous activities. Recall that the Command antivandal Squad recently took over and dismantle a local refinery under construction at Umuechem in Etche Local Government.
“Thus, the fire disaster which occured in Ibaa community is highly condemnable and uncalled for; there is need for conscious effort and stronger collaborations with the traditional institutions, community youths, religious leaders amongst others to fight against oil bunkering activities in our various communities and this begins with giving credible Intelligence and information to the NSCDC who remains the lead agency in the fight against vandalism of oil pipelines and protection of critical national assets and Infrastructures in Rivers State”.
While condoling with the affected families; the NSCDC Rivers State Commandant warned those operating local refineries in some communities across the State.
One more photo below.
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