Adulterated kerosene destroys homes in Akwa Ibom

As adulterated kerosene continues to wreak havoc in many homes in Akwa Ibom State, government has swung into action.

Incidences of kerosene explosion had killed residents and injured others in some local government areas including Ibiono Ibom, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Ini and Ikono, among others.

Many of the victims with various degrees of burns are currently receiving treatment at the Ikot Ekpene General Hospital.

Worried by the development, the Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Orman Esin, who visited the victims, prayed for their quick recovery, assuring that government would not leave any stone unturned in getting to the roots of the matter.

He said the government would assist them to recover fully and enjoined the public to be conscious of where they buy kerosene, diesel, petrol and other products to prevent accident in homes or vehicles.

Esin, who later paid a visit to one of the stations in Ikot Ekpene, upon a tip-off, declared it shut until the completion of investigation to ascertain the culpability or otherwise of the station.

Also, the Commissioner ordered the immediate arrest of one of the station managers who allegedly lied that the station had not dispensed any petroleum products in the past six months.

He ordered security operatives to take samples of the products for laboratory analysis with a view to ascertaining the quality and standard of the products.