- *Crude oil pipeline blasts in Rumuekpe area of Rivers State, leaving many people dead
An undisclosed number of people have been killed in Rumuekpe area of Rivers State.
Report says the blast which has claimed many lives and injured several others, was caused by illegal oil refining.
Rumuekpe is a community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State rich in crude oil resources.
Rivers state police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, confirming the crude oil pipeline incident, saying investigation is ongoing to ascertain the number of casualties.
“Investigation is ongoing.on the crude oil explosion. The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained,” Omoni said.
Reports indicates that at least 20 persons have been killed in the crude oil explosion while many were severely injured.
The cause of the explosion has not been definitely known but there are indications that it was caused by illegal crude oil refining of petroleum products which occurred early Friday at the Rumuji axis of East-West road in Emohua LGA.
Peoples Gazette says Illegal crude oil refining is rampant in the Niger Delta states. Residents often suffer from black soot with many alleging adverse skin reactions during the rainy season aside other unknown health issues.
The Guardian Newspaper reports that a resident of the community, Mike Ndele, said the area was prone to crude oil bunkering activities, disclosing that the pipeline exploded when the bunkerers attempted to cut off one of the pipeline heads. He said that about 20 persons died in the incident.
He said: “I can confirm to you that more than 20 persons died in that very incident. The particular place where this incident occurred is very notorious for bunkering activities. Youths from various communities gathered there to carry out criminal activities of cutting oil pipes. The place is the centre of oil bunkering activities. There are so many petrol and gas pipelines that crisscross the community. Some multinational oil companies own the pipelines.
