Five people, including four women, have died following an explosion in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The blast reportedly originated from a house where illegally refined petroleum products were stored for resale.
Environmentalist Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene confirmed the incident, emphasizing the dangers of crude oil theft and illegal refining. He called on the Federal Government to legalize modular refineries in the Niger Delta to prevent future tragedies. Youth volunteers under the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) reported that the fire occurred around 11 AM, burning all victims beyond recognition.
The Rivers State Police Command, through spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, also confirmed the explosion and casualties. She explained that the fire started when a resident used a cooking stove to prepare noodles near the stored products, leading to the fatal ignition. Among the victims was a woman who had come to purchase illegally refined kerosene. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, while authorities continue to warn residents against pipeline vandalism, artisanal refining, and the storage of illegal petroleum products.
