Anastasia Okechukwu
An explosion from a crude oil tapping point has killed atleast 12 people, including women, in Rumuekpe community , Emoha local Government in Rivers State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 2:00am on Friday when one of the buses loaded with crude oil went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area.
This was confirmed in a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, an environmental rights activist and Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria).
YEAC-Nigeria in a statement issued through its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS) confirmed that the explosion happened in Rumuekpe Community at an illegal crude oil tapping point leaving yet to be confirmed number people dead.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Rivers has confirmed that 12 persons died in the early Friday morning explosion in Rumuekpe community of Emoha Local Government Area of the state.
The Spokesperson for the command, 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 said so far about 12 persons are believed to have bee burnt to death adding that the identities of the victims are still unknown
Iringe-Koko also said that five vehicles and four tricycles were burnt to ashes at the explosion site.
Meanwhile, the command has admonished members of the public to stay away from illegal oil bunkering.