…….State government says illegal refiners are from Rivers, Bayelsa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday that the number of dead bodies found at the site of the exploded illegal oil refinery site at Abacheke Kpofire in Egbema community, Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo state last Friday has risen to 108.
NEMA’s confirmations comes as the Imo state government allergies that illegal refineries in the state are operated by persons from Rivers, Bayelsa state and the environs. State governor, Senator Uzodinma said fleeing, crude oil illegal refiners from the neighbouring Niger states have found new haven in Imo state.
NEMA head of operations, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnaji, who issued a statement, updated the number of dead bodies from the 20 they volunteered on Saturday, also confirmed that the pipeline belonged to Agip Oil Nigeria.
He explained that pressure occasioned by the heavy activities around the broken pipeline, from where the residents scooped oil for as long as they did, obviously caused the pipeline to explode, sending a simultaneous wide fire round the environment, which already had been soaked by the crude oil.
The NEMA chief also stated that the explosion took place at about 11pm, a time that made rescue or help difficult for the victims. He said his men discovered that some of the victims fell into nearby river, while others died outside the immediate environ as they fled with fire on their body.
As a result, Nnaji said his agency suspect believes that a number twice as much may still be missing. “It was more serious than we envisaged. As of this evening, we have counted 109 bodies on the ground while countless others fell into the river and others died inside the refinery,” the NEMA official said.
Meanwhile, the state governor Senator Hope Uzodinma, who was represented by the state commissioner for petroleum resources, Goodluck Opiah, while inspecting the site on Saturday, reportedly alleged that most of those operating illegal refineries are from neighbouring Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The governor was quoted saying, “most of the people who are engaging in this act are from Rivers, Bayelsa and other neighbouring states, and it is sabotage for our people to allow this illegal activity to continue.
“They have obviously found new haven in our state. This is a preliminary report, and it is unacceptable. We are investigating further, and find out what is really going on,” the governor said.
Uzodinma also stated that the owner of the farmland where the illegal refinery is operated has absconded. According to him, the fleeing land owner, identified as Okenze Onyenwoke has been declared wanted.
“I can’t really confirm the number of the deceased because many families have removed their dead relatives they were able to identify. Apart from this calamity, the act has destroyed the aquatic life of the community. Our people before now are predominantly farmers and fishermen.
“Look around, you’ll find smokes coming from all over. If this is not enough for any person to stop, I think the community is heading for what I can’t describe,” the governor said during the on the spot inspection.
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