An explosion at an illegal artisanal crude oil refinery site in Rivers State has killed 12 persons. The Guardian gathered that the incident occurred in Obiafor 1 and 2, Obrikom area of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area (ONELGA).
Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, who has been campaigning against artisanal refineries, environmental pollution, and proposing alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident yesterday.
He said he received report of the incident from its Network on Organized Crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea (NOCINAG). Fyneface said the actual number of those who died in the explosion is not clear, as some community members are reporting that the casualties are 20 while others say it is over 50, with many of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
The explosion is coming two months after a similar one at an artisanal refinery site on October 1, in Ibaa community, Emohua local government area of Rivers State, which left 35 people dead.
Fyneface reiterated his call on youths in Rivers and across the Niger Delta to stop acts of pipeline vandalism, artisanal crude oil refineries and associated environmental pollution.
MEANWHILE, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on December 23, destroyed six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
In a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the air strikes were in continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals. He said the illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80metres at a location about six nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.
According to him, having been confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the six sites, thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.
“In spite of the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated.
“The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has commended the efforts of the Air Component Commanders in all the theatres of operation.
“Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the Northeast and currently in Katsina to fete troops, called on them not to rest until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
By Ann Godwin
