Rivers illegal oil refining fire kills 35 persons

By Abiodun OBA

Late Sunday night fire outbreak at an illegal oil refining site at Ibaa Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State burnt more than 35 people to death.

It was gathered that all the people numbering over 45 who had gone to trade on the petroleum product were there were affected.

A source in the community, Emmanuel Daniel, noted that people from Isiokpo Kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Ibaa and Oduoha in Emohua LGA, were affected.

Daniel narrated: “More than 40 people were there at the site. They were there scooping and bagging crude oil when the fire caught.

“The fire came from a refining site that is close to the point where they were bagging the crude.

“Many Isiokpo and Oduoha people and Ibaa people were there. Seven of the people died inside the pit where they were scooping the crude. About 10 were burnt to charcoal by the pit.

“About 30 people died at the site while over 15 have even rushed to the hospital. I hear that three of them have died while they were being rushed to the hospital.”

However, at press time, police could not confirm the development as the Police Public Relations Officer of the state Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said she would get back to our reporter later.