19 persons have been reportedly burnt to death following an explosion from an illegal oil oil bunkering activities in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday morning, after the youths allegedly broke a pipeline facility belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company operating in the areas, and began using jerrycans and buckets to scoop fuel.
A member of the local security outfit in the area told Channels TV that while about 19 persons were feared dead, many suffered varying degrees of burns and were receiving treatment in different hospitals in the area.
Speaking, the chairman of Niger Delta Youth Movement, ONELGA chapter, Emeka Ukwuosah, advised youths in the area to engage in meaningful activities and shun illegal oil bunkering.
Ukwuosah said, “Let me join in condemning the illegal oil bunkering going on within ONELGA. We are also calling on the security agencies to be up and doing and check what is happening within that circle.
“Secondly, we are also calling on the multinationals that own the oil facilities to overhaul their aging facilities to forestall such incidents.”
