By Prisca Nguzo
The explosion in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, from an illegal oil tapping point, has claimed the lives of not less than 25 persons.
It occurred, after an alleged breaking into the pipeline of an operating multinational oil firm in the area by a youth, who scooped fuel with buckets and jerrycans until the explosion . Society Mirror learnt about this incident on Sunday morning.
Many suffered sever injury, and were receiving treatment in different hospital while 25 persons, where feared dead as reported by an anonymous source.
The source said, “It is a very terrible incident. Imagine the death of 25 people in such a time. We learnt some youths bust a company pipeline.
“If you go to the General Hospital and other private clinics in Omoku, you will see many of the injured people scattered all over the place in both government and private hospitals taking treatment.”
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Another source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said the incident, occurred as a result of attempts by suspected oil thieves to light mosquito coils.
He disclosed, “The leakage was from an obsolete pipeline belonging to one of the oil companies operating in the area.
Emeka Ukwuosah, the chairman of Niger Delta Youth Movement, ONELGA chapter, has advised the youths in the area, to avoid illegal oil bunkering,and participate in meaningful activities.
Ukwuosah continued, “Let me join in condemning the illegal oil bunkering going on within ONELGA. We are also calling on the security agencies to be up and doing and check what is happening within that circle.
“Secondly, we are also calling on the multinationals that own the oil facilities to overhaul their aging facilities to forestall such incidents.”
This ugly incident, was blamed on illegal oil bunkering by Emeja Agbabere, the Assistant Secretary of a vigilante group in the area, Onelga Security Peace Advisory Council.
Agbabere said the vigilante group, the Community Development Committee and the youths were directed by a monarch in the area to put a stop to illegal oil bunkering activities there
He however expressed dismay that despite their repeated campaigns for the youths to stop illegal bunkering, they paid a deaf ear.
He stated, “We proclaimed that they must put a stop to it and this is the aftermath of it. When they busted the pipeline, fire engulfed immediately and 19 of them died instantly and about 12 in two different hospitals.
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