An explosion that occurred at Rumuekpe in Emeoha Local Government Area of Rivers in the Republic of Nigeria on Friday morning has reportedly left 12 people, including women and children dead.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. at a crude oil tapping point.
It said the Public Relations Officer in Rivers, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident in Port Harcourt, said, however, that the casualty figure had not yet been ascertained.
”I have called the DPO and he said he would go around with his patrol team and get back to me. Just wait and let me get the details,” she said.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred as a bus loaded with some siphoned crude went up in flames as it was leaving the spot for an illegal refinery in the area.
Fyneface Dumnamene, executive director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, said a spark from the exhaust pipe of a bus loaded with gallons of crude oil ignited the explosion as the driver attempted to depart.
“Everybody in about five vehicles there was all burnt,” Dumnamene told The Associated Press (AP).
Illegal refineries are a lucrative business in Nigeria, one of Africa’s top oil producers. They are more rampant in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, where most of the nation’s oil facilities are located.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
