Tragedy struck in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State on Saturday as an explosion at an illegal petroleum product storage site claimed the lives of five people.
According to the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), the incident occurred around 11 a.m. in a residential building where illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, were being stored for resale. Reports from members of YEAC-Nigeria’s One Million Youth Volunteers Network confirmed that the victims — four women and one man — were burnt beyond recognition.
Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, called for an immediate investigation into the cause of the explosion. He also urged residents, particularly the youth, to refrain from engaging in pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refining, and the trading or home storage of illegal petroleum products to prevent further loss of life.
In light of the tragedy, the Advocacy Centre renewed its call for the federal government to legalize artisanal refining in the Niger Delta through the establishment of the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) or the development of modular refineries to ensure safer practices.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the urgent need for the government to provide legal alternatives to illegal refining activities,” Dr. Fyneface said.
The community remains in mourning as authorities work to identify the victims and secure the area.
