By Savinews Reporter
The illegal oil refinery has claimed not less than lives of 100 people mostly youths in Abaezi Community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The explosion was said to have happened Friday night around 11 pm as a result of illegal oil refinery business popularly known as “Oil bunkering going on in the area.
Reports had it that the incident was as a result of fire outbreak at Abaezi forest in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, which caused the explosion at the illegal bunkering site. The fire burnt about 100 people to death with fifty sustaining various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals in the area
Reacting to the ugly incident , the Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, who represented Governor Hope Uzidinma of Imo State during his visit to the scene, said the fire consumed the lives of so many people mostly youths.
He said, “at the moment, I can’t really confirm the number of the deceased because many family members have removed the corpses of so many of their relatives.
Opiah said Okenze Onyewoke, the owner of the illegal refinary, had been declared wanted by the government of Imo State.
He said, “apart from this calamity, the act has destroyed the acqatic life of the community. Our people before now are predorminantly farmers and fishermen.
“Look around, you’ll find smokes coming from this illegal act. If this is not enough for any person to stop, I think the community is heading for what I can’t describe.
“Most of the people who are engaging in this act are from Rivers, Bayelsa and other neigbouring States and it is sabotage for our people to allow this illegal act to continue.
“I wish to appeal to our youths to desist from making themselves available for this illegal act. This is a sucidal business they got themselves into.
“On behalf of Imo State Government, we condole with the berieved family. Imo State Government pray God gives the family of those who lost their lives the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Narrating the incident to our Correspondent, an eye witness, Francis Dike disclosed that the incident happened around 11pm last night.
He further revealed that residents of the community woke up to see the huge flame on the Abaezi forest.
Another eyewitness in the area who pleaded anonymity stated “this is too Much for a small village like this, what a painful thing in Egbema kingdom my heart is bleeding”
“How can these families survive this? Some families lost 3 souls and many more, how will they survive all this, Who did we really offend in this country, Why can’t there be job opportunities” he stated.
