Portharcourt - Mediaage NG News – Several persons have died following an incident of fire explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Nigeria’s River State late last Sunday.
The state commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Basil Igwebueze, confirmed the incident while speaking to BBC Pidgin.
Mr. Igwebueze, while revealing that 18 persons were burnt beyond recognition, he said 25 others were rescued.
He however, blamed those who vandalise oil pipelines and operate illegal refineries for the deadly incident.
The Police also confirmed the incident but, did not provide details of what happened.
However, residents say most of the people who died had worked at the illegal refinery in the village of Rumucholu.
According to AP, the workers at the site were refining oil taken from a vandalized pipe, according to Chima Avadi, a local activist. “When they scoop from the point where they vandalized the pipe, they will take to where they were cooking. That is how fire got there,” Avadi said.
Illegal refining is common in the region, with locals tapping oil from pipelines to sell.
Last year, more than 100 people died following an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Imo state.