₦airaland Forum

2 suspects sought as 100 die in Nigeria oil refinery blast

By CHINEDU ASADU
today
People gather Saturday April 23, 2022 at the site of an explosion that took place the day before at an illegal oil refinery in Ohaji-Egbema local government area in Imo state, southeast Nigeria. At least 100 people are feared to have died in the explosion, authorities told The Associated Press, as the search for bodies at the site and for two people suspected of being involved in the incident intensified. (AP Photo)
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 100 people may have died in an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in southeast Nigeria, a local oil official said Sunday as the search intensified for bodies at the site and for two people suspected of being involved in the blast.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, called the explosion a “catastrophe and a national disaster.”

The explosion Friday night at the facility in Ohaji-Egbema local government area in Imo state was triggered by a fire at two fuel storage areas where more than 100 people worked, state officials told The Associated Press.

Dozens of workers were caught up in the explosion while many others attempted to escape the blaze by running into wooded areas.

Those who died in the disaster are estimated to be within “the range of 100,” said Goodluck Opiah, the Imo commissioner for petroleum resources. “A lot of them ran into the bush with the burns and they died there.”

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Buhari has directed the nation’s security forces “to intensify the clampdown” on such facilities being operated illegally in many parts of southern Nigeria, a spokesperson said in a statement.

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2 suspects sought as 100 die in Nigeria oil refinery blast
Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, for many years its oil production capacity has been limited by a chronic challenge of oil storage and the operation of illegal refineries.

Nigeria lost at least $3 billion worth of crude oil to theft between January 2021 and February 2022, with shady business operators often avoiding regulators by setting up refineries in remote areas such as the one that exploded in Imo, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said in March.

“There are no arrests yet but the two culprits are on the run with the police now looking for them,” said Declan Emelumba, the Imo State commissioner for information. Officials did not reveal the identities of the suspects.

A mass burial is being planned for those killed in the explosion, many of who “were burnt beyond recognition,” said Emelumba. Environmental officials have started to fumigate the area.

Such disasters are a regular occurrence in Africa’s most populous country, where poverty and unemployment – at 33% according to the latest government estimates – have forced millions of young people into criminal activities.

Operating illegal refineries is not as popular in Imo state as it is in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, where militants have gained notoriety for blowing up oil pipelines and kidnapping workers from petroleum companies.

As many as 30 illegal oil refineries were busted in the Niger Delta region in just two weeks, Nigeria’s Defense Department said earlier this month when it announced a task force to curb crude oil theft.

In the aftermath of the explosion in Imo state, the Nigerian ministry of petroleum told The AP there is “a renewed action” to tackle illegal activities in the oil sector.

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The government and the military are stepping up actions “to minimize the criminalities along the oil production lines,” said Horatius Egua, a senior official at the petroleum ministry.

But many of the culprits are not deterred including in Imo state, one of the few places producing oil in Nigeria’s southeast. The problem of illegal refineries “has never been this bad” and remains “difficult to end,” said Opiah, the Imo petroleum commissioner.

“It is like asking why kidnapping or armed robbery has not stopped,” he said. “Even with this incident, not many people will be deterred. I am sure more illegal refineries will be cropping up in other places.”

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https://apnews.com/article/business-africa-explosions-nigeria-745d3f3293144d8dcfde7f206052598f

Surprised Surprised Surprise!

In the first place, these are Ilaje/Ijaw Yoruba descendants of Adimu indigenous to the area. Actually, they are also descendants of Oru. Do some research.

Now, any group that has open affinity to Yoruba, be they in Delta, Warri or Kongi are under threat for their progressive culture in and out of Africa.

What is still amazing to me are some, not all Igbo jubilation when Yoruba are attacked.

Yet, Yoruba champion your cause more than any other ethnic group in Nigeria.

It gets to a stage in marriage, if it is not working or you have outgrown each other, let go!

A toxic environment could be damaging for children that love one of the parents much more.

But men, if provoked, can turn into beast. Parading him in front of the children may be a deterrent to the public, it can damage the children more.

Can the minister love these children more than their parents?

Lagos x .??

Dis Lagos go kill una.

There is no where else in your zoo to survive?

Olaudah Equiano is a great name, Igbo or any other African.

Recognize and respect African heroes no matter where they come from.

Some of you carry this ethnocentrism too far.

If Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba out of over 40 ethnic groups stop fighting for Presidency, there would be peace in Nigeria.

Each of these three ethnic groups can go back to their states, develope them, showcase them to Nigerians, Africans and the rest of the world as the attractive place to be.

Better than crossing desert, sea and zoo like a gutless, hungry and angry hyenas to promised land in and out of Nigeria.

Na by force?

BSdetective:
The only Yoruba's supporting south east presidency are PDP miscreants and sorosoke uninformed miscreants with no voters card..... afenifere represents their own interest and the highest bidders who can bribe them..... they're non-entities in Yorubaland. If a Yoruba man tells you he's voting for Peter Obi ask him for his voter's card.....70% chances he doesn't have and is just playing eye service for you and trying to seem like a one Nigerian....am a Yoruba an I know my people well.

You will never find Western Nigerians unifying like herds or sheep on one issue. Not even the Presidency.

Before Jonathan Presidency, Obasanjo the most detribalized Nigerian according to Ndi Igbo then, came from the South West.

If the Presidency from the South is a rotation between these two only, where are the South Central or other minorities?

Definitely, Yoruba and Igbo have no conscience and are indifferent as long as they dominate.

South West and South East hand their turns recently. Stop being greedy.

Actually, I was done with this topic until I saw what you wrote below. It got me laughing hard.

It is true we were brought up to love Igbo until these young children were fed with hate. Yoruba children would not stand for hate without dishing it back.

I think you take our love for granted, it doesn't mean we want you to stay by tulasi. It means you abused your welcome.

Who call anyone a racist unless you can rule over them? Even rejected Executive Prime Minister of Nigeria on a silver platter because you could not get Premier of Western Region! Haba!

Do not forget that Western Region excel within Nigeria by minding it's business at home. It went down after joining the money race. If you want an example of where pursuit of ego turned into abject poverty, go to Nigeria.

Idiko1:
I am really flabbergasted that some goons will face sudden death in Nigeria if Biafra or Republic of Igboland is actualized yet these shifty fools will make a comment of hate towards Ndigbo.

I really want to fight some of these loudmouthed imbeciles in a battlefield to see how they would defend their backwater enclaves.

Ever heard about Ija Ore le ku?

You are welcomed ma'am.

Respect.

EastisBae:
Whatever stuff you're smoking is too much for your small brain to handle, now it has damaged your cranium completely.

That rubbish I highlighted couldn't have been uttered by a normal person.

Coming from a depraved mind like yours.

Do some research, you will find out that Famine drove out the Chinese and Indians, particularly to a country flowing with milk and honey called Nigeria where they made money to prevent their families from starving to death.

Arabs! Find out how Morocco vandalized African last surviving Empire.

You are comparing yourselves to vampires.

No wonder you remain their slaves until today.

Ndi Ara.

IDENNAA:
Your post is not just senseless, ignorant but a drivel from an inferior mind laced with hate and bitterness. How about Chinese, Indians and Arabs ?

Look, parents should raise their children the best way they could and be a model not only to their children but to all children.

No matter what you do, especially when these children are trained in another culture, you cannot vouch that all of them will turn out the way you want.

Leave Soludo's children out of this, abeg.

Sometimes one has to respond in the face of attack and hatred at the risk of offending many reasonable Igbo.

How can you attack people who are comfortable at home and tell them to emulate rabid infected stray dogs running out of uncomfortable domain?

How many Americans, Canadians or Scandinavians run out to find homes elsewhere? Or New Yorker.

If anything, too many Western Nigerians are traveling out these days. Their leaders have to withdraw from the Nigerian rat race and build the West like Awo did when Yoruba could not wait to return home.

It baffles me each time I see you supporting Yekini Amoda Ogulere from Iragbiji.

LegendHero:
Lol Pa Tewonde George.

We know your hate for Tinubu already beclouded your thought sir.

Funniest thing is that Asiwaju never made any statement about Osinbajo in a derogatory manner and Vice verse with Osinbajo.

Pa Bode should rather be preparing for his exile trip rather than wasting time on debating hearsays.

I cannot stand his bad reputation but the demeanor of the lady is impressive.

When you are down Tinubu would execute you.

My gosh, come see distraction o.

There are people without mother and father that have achieved more decently without killing a fly.

This one threw his mother under the bus, you are asking for the father!

softwareman:
Have u people descended to this ABYSMAL LEVEL?
ARE U PEOPLE COMPLETELY LOST EVERY MODICUM OF DECENCY AND MORALITY?
Asumming tinubu has no father, does that mean that automatically disqualifies him.
Without a father, he retired from Mobil as a treasurer.
Without a father, he became a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Without a father, he became a governor of Lagos state.
Who is your own father and what HAVE YOU MADE OF YOUR OWN LIFE?
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS WHAT MATTERS. NOT WHO YOUR FATHER IS.

Is that the image of Tinubu the Judas that betrayed Ganiyu Dawodu. Adeniran Ogunsanya, destroyed AD and killed Funso Williams.

There are some old fools without memory or ignorant kids here.

What more do you need to understand that the latest versions have little improvement over previous ones. Most people do not even use all the features in their phones.

Nothing but a hype to lure buyers to "upgrade the designer plastics.

Mykelslim:
Samsung if una like make una produce phone wey dey snap heaven, I no dey buy if this my A72 never reach 3yrs. I no come this life to buy phone.

Here they go again. Yoruba wannabe.

Written way back?

Curious since he was just in the first term as Vice-President

The same Muslim and Christian religion they used to hold you down as slaves in 2020!

Oponu!

Like daughter like father.

Is there anything Donald Trump would not do for money?

Even overlooked the murder of Saudi citizen on US soil in the Saudi Embassy for billion dollars investments in Ivanka husband firm.

Penguin2:
Is Trump aware that her daughter is wearing Ankara and receiving doggy in a shithole?

Lionnation:
Statement from someone in a cave

See, see a Barbarian exposing himself.

It is wrong to go to a state without learning the history and language of that state.

It helps assimilation and understanding to prevent silly blunders like not knowing the difference between St. John School Aroloya and Aroloya School (no such school).

Contesting for local offices without understanding the language at the House.

Crying like a Barbarian that cannot rule over the Romans.

Abusing the generosity of tolerance and accommodations.

Why go to a state if you hate the people anyway

Iyaebe:
Exactly, but people no longer respect the hands that fed and raised them

I know. You mean Tinubu right?

Pa Ganiyu Dawudo and Pa Adeniran Ogunsaya are still rolling in their graves over their choice of Tinubu over Funso Williams.

Rape or sexual assault is a difference without distinction. No means no, even after initial agreement.

It can be abused by both men and women.

Yes, ladies can force erection just by dirty dancing, provocative dress or seduction. Boys or men sleeping can discharge dreaming only to realize their dick is in the mouth of abusers that has managed to go further and climb on top.

shegoon:
Aunty abeg stop being sarcastic about this, i have been raped in the female hostel general bathroom in school. I fell from where i was peeping on their unclothedness and was caught. They held my hands and legs apart while sucked and rubbed my "joy stick" then the penis became aroused, one of them jokingly removed her panty and made the first penetration, till about 7 of them bleeped the hell out of me in turn. I released 4 times and fainted...... @ sapphire what do you call this??

My buroda, you got what you want and deserve.

Power should never be in the hands of dictators or mad men like Ayatollah, Trump or Putin.

Nuclear trigger is nothing but suicide. Putin is like a man threatening to jump from high story building unless he has his way.

People, especially Nigerians would be daring him: Jump Jump Jump!

European Union had already answered him that they have nuclear bomb too.

There is this self-hatred within Black people all over the world.

The closer they are to you, the more vicious they get. The same deadly act they would not penetrate on others are reserved for those that look like them.

Asari, Asari, Asari o!

You are one of the pioneers of kidnapping in Nigeria. You made a lot of money. You must be running low.

E don tey. Na Tinubu of Iragbiji sabi pay the money you want to float again. Na who say terrorists nor sabi?

Keep on blaming Mkpurummiri cannibal for your own blind spot or lack of foresight.

A court confirmed drug dealer like Noriega that America helped install as Head of State was dislodged by American whims.

Lumumba was humiliated by his own people in a regime change with the help of the same foreign regime changers.

If Tinubu is not a USA spy, would he ever step outside Nigeria without being disgraced? Your are the reason Nigeria, the so called giant of Africa has never recovered after the Civil War.

Nonpartisan1:
He whom the gods have bless, no Mkpurummiri cannibal can touch him.

American Ambassador also came calling the other day.

Na dem dey rush Okechukwu Ahmed Tinubu.

mighty2:
Tinubu is unstoppable, come 2023 Tinubu will be our president insha allah
ON HIS MANDATE I STAND

How many Bona fide Lagosians do you know apart from areaboys that worship Tinubu like non entity praise singers because of stomach infrastructure?

mighty2:
one of the haters spotted
May Tinubu's haters never know peace

Let me remind haters how you repaid Bode George for creating representation for you in Lagos and how you lost it all.

Ndi ara!