No fewer than 12 persons have lost their lives in the early Friday morning explosion in Rumuekpe community of Emoha Local Government Area of the state, Police has disclosed.
The Quest Times earlier reported that several persons have been killed after an explosion from a crude oil tapping point in Rumuekpe community in Emuoha local government area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when one of the buses loaded with crude went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, said it received news of the incident through its crude oil spill alert response system.
The Rivers State Police Command Spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident saying, ”The Divisional Police Officer is already on his was to the scene.”
However, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that preliminary investigation indicated that the victims were scooping crude product when the site caught fire.
She explained that five vehicles and four tricycles were burnt to ashes at the explosion site.
“So far about 12 persons are believed to have been burnt to death. The identities of the victims are still unknown,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the command has admonished members of the public to stay away from illegal oil bunkering and contact it through telephone numbers 08032003514 and 08098880134, to report any crime.