A devastating petrol fire explosion in Omoku, within the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, has resulted in the tragic loss of at least five lives. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has brought renewed attention to the dangers associated with illegal oil refining and storage in the region.
The Executive Director of the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Center (YEAC), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, confirmed the reports of the explosion and fire. According to information received from YEAC’s youth volunteer network in Omoku, operating under the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta, the inferno erupted late on Saturday, April 26, at approximately 11:00 AM.
Dr. Fyneface stated that the fire engulfed a residential building utilized for the purchase and storage of illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, intended for resale within the community. Tragically, five individuals – four females and one male – were burnt to death in the ensuing inferno.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, Dr. Fyneface called for a thorough investigation. He also issued a strong warning to residents and youths against engaging in activities such as pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refining, and the trading and storage of illegally refined petroleum products in homes, emphasizing the severe risks involved.
Furthermore, Dr. Fyneface reiterated YEAC’s long-standing appeal to the Federal Government to legalize artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta. He urged the government to implement its proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) from July 27, 2020, and to establish modular refineries for artisanal refiners in the region. Dr. Fyneface argued that such measures would help mitigate the occurrence of similar tragic incidents.
The Guardian also independently gathered details confirming the explosion at an illegal petroleum storage site in Omoku, corroborating the information provided by YEAC’s network. The incident underscores the perilous nature of the illicit oil trade and the urgent need for safer alternatives and regulatory frameworks in the Niger Delta.
