In a devastating incident in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, at least 25 individuals lost their lives in an explosion stemming from an illegal oil tapping point. PUNCH Metro reports that the tragic event occurred on a Sunday morning when youths allegedly tampered with a pipeline owned by a multinational oil company operating in the region.
According to an anonymous source, the youths breached the company’s pipeline, utilizing jerrycans and buckets to extract fuel. The situation took a dire turn, resulting in the loss of 25 lives, while numerous others sustained varying degrees of burns and were rushed to different hospitals in the vicinity for medical attention.
The source stated, “It is a very terrible incident. Imagine the death of 25 people in such a time. We learnt some youths busted a company pipeline. If you go to the General Hospital and other private clinics in Omoku, you will see many of the injured people scattered all over the place in both government and private hospitals taking treatment.”
Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the inferno erupted due to attempts by suspected oil thieves to ignite mosquito coils. The leaking substance originated from an outdated pipeline owned by one of the oil companies operating in the area.
Emeka Ukwuosah, the chairman of the Niger Delta Youth Movement, ONELGA chapter, urged local youths to engage in lawful activities and abandon illegal oil bunkering. He called on security agencies to intensify efforts in monitoring and addressing the situation, while also appealing to oil companies to upgrade their facilities to prevent such incidents.
Emeka Agbabere, the Assistant Secretary of the Onelga Security Peace Advisory Council, attributed the tragedy to illegal oil bunkering activities. Despite the vigilante group’s efforts to discourage youths from participating in such illegal activities, the incident highlights the challenges of curbing these practices.
While the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, is yet to provide details, the community mourns the loss of lives and emphasizes the need for concerted efforts to halt illegal oil-related activities.