An illegal oil tapping point in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has led to the tragic loss of at least 20 lives.
News About Nigeria gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning when local youths allegedly breached a pipeline owned by a multinational oil company in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, after the youths broke the pipeline, they began using jerry cans and buckets to collect fuel.
In the midst of this, an explosion occurred. While 20 people are feared dead, numerous others sustained severe burns and are currently receiving medical treatment in various hospitals in the vicinity.
The situation prompted a response from Emeka Ukwuosah, the chairman of the Niger Delta Youth Movement, ONELGA chapter, who urged local youths to engage in meaningful activities and stop oil bunkering.
He pointed out the need for security agencies to enhance their efforts in curbing such illegal activities and called on multinational oil companies to upgrade their aging facilities to prevent future incidents.
A source, speaking anonymously to Punch, said that the inferno resulted from attempts by suspected oil thieves to light mosquito coils near the leaky pipeline.
The pipeline in question was described as obsolete and belonging to one of the oil companies operating in the area.
Emeka Agbabere, the Assistant Secretary of a vigilante group in the area, the Onelga Security Peace Advisory Council, said that the tragedy is caused by illegal oil bunkering.
Despite previous efforts to discourage such activities, he expressed dismay at the lack of compliance from the local youth.
As of the time of reporting, the incident had not been officially reported to the state police command, according to Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the command.