A deadly explosion has claimed the lives of five individuals in Omoku, located in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The explosion occurred in a store that was reportedly used for the illegal storage of refined petroleum products, including condensate, which were purchased for resale in the area.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident on Saturday. Dr. Fyneface Fyneface, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, stated that the explosion resulted in a massive fire that completely destroyed the building where the petroleum products were being kept.
According to reports from local youth volunteers, the explosion took place around 11 a.m. on Saturday, causing severe casualties. Five people, including four women and one man, were burned beyond recognition in the inferno.
Dr. Fyneface called for a full investigation into the cause of the explosion and strongly cautioned against the involvement of residents in illegal activities such as pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and the illegal refining and storage of petroleum products. He emphasized the risks these activities pose to public safety, urging residents to avoid engaging in such dangerous practices.
Fyneface also used the incident to reiterate his call for the Nigerian government to legalize artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta. He urged the government to implement the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI), which was proposed in July 2020, and to establish modular refineries to provide safer, regulated alternatives for artisanal oil refiners in the region.
The tragic event has highlighted the ongoing issues of illegal refining and its dangerous impact on local communities in the Niger Delta. YEAC-Nigeria has pledged to continue advocating for safer and more sustainable practices in the region.
