MASSIVE EXPLOSION DOLOMIGHT: few minutes ago in 3 teenagers found dead in DOLOMIGHT after fire breaks out in farm land police identified …..
An illicit crude oil refinery in Abaezi woodland in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State recently exploded and killed over 110 people. Amby Uneze reports that the explosion was the first of its kind in the history of the state considering the number of people burnt
No doubt, Friday evening of April 22, 2022, was a black day in Imo State as the peace and tranquility of a remote oil community, Abaezi woodland in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government shattered owing to the explosion of an illicit refinery that claimed over 110 people.
The fire explosion was the first of its kind in the history of the state considering the number of people burnt in the inferno.
Notably, the site of the illicit refinery was located at the middle of the forest in the Abaezi community. The community has a common boundary with Rivers State and an oil rich area. Therefore, some unscrupulous individuals latch on to the remoteness of the area to perpetuate series of negative oil bunkering and operate illegal refineries in the quiet and sleepy environment.
Severally, the state government had warned the public against patronising the illegal activities of these oil thieves. Due to the flourishing nature of the business, albeit illegal, these oil thieves are persistent in illegal siphoning of the crude that passes through the pipelines thereby denying the federal government the expected revenue that usually goes to her coffers- sabotage of the highest order and an offence against the state.
Since it is a flourishing illegal business, many people engage in it, which explains the high number of victims recorded during the explosion. And because they operate the business crudely, there were no safety measures put in place to fight emergencies. Also, because the business is carried out in the thick forest, it is not a habitat for the indigenes except those who engage in the business on a daily basis, which was why there were no houses burnt in the inferno.