Tension As Explosion Hits Oil Facility in Rivers, 5 Reported Dead

• Five individuals, four females and one male, were reportedly burnt beyond recognition following an explosion at a store housing illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers state
• The explosion that happened in Omoku community, led to a fire that destroyed the building, with Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) calling for an investigation
• YEAC-Nigeria's Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface, urged the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to legalise artisanal refineries to prevent future tragedies

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Rivers state, Port Harcourt - An explosion has rocked a store harbouring illegally refined petroleum products in Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state, killing five persons.

Explosion rocks Rivers community

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the development on Saturday, April 26.

As reported by The Nation, the Executive Director, YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Fyneface, said the explosion resulted in an inferno that razed the building.

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He said:

“The inferno is said to have occurred in a house where people purchased and stored illegally refined petroleum products including condensate for resale in the area.”

Five people burnt: Group calls for investigation

Fyneface said members of the Advocacy Centre youth volunteers network under the auspices of the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta in ONELGA reported the development to him.

Speaking further, he noted that the incident occurred on Saturday morning and five persons comprising four females and a male, were burnt beyond recognition.

He called for an investigation into the incident and warned residents and youths against involvement in pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries and trading in illegally refined petroleum products including home storage.

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Fubara reacts as explosion hits gas facility in Rivers

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that suspended Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied any links to militant groups, dismissing allegations of involvement in recent oil facility explosions.

In recent weeks, a series of gas explosions have rocked Rivers state, leading to President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of Fubara.

Fubara, in a statement on Monday, warned against attempts to incite violence or economic sabotage in his name, urging security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation.

Source: Legit.ng