The body count has continued to rise from the pipeline explosion in Omoku, in Egbema/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government area in Rivers State at the weekend as more victims have been reported to have died at different hospitals around Omoku.
This is as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC Rivers State Command has condemned the act of vandalism that led to the fire explosion which occurred at Obrikom Obiafu 1 & 2, in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State.
At least 20 persons were feared dead and uncountable others were seriously injured following the explosion which was reported to have occurred Saturday after youths allegedly broke a pipeline belonging to one of the multinational oil firms operating in the area.
A community source told Nigeria Tribune that many of the wounded victims have continued to die from severe burns they sustained from the explosion.
“Several other victims that sustained serious injuries are still dying by the day at the hospital as we speak”, said the source who refused to allow his name mentioned for security reasons.
Another community had earlier described the incident as very terrible. He said; “Imagine the death of 20 people in such a time. We leant some youths bust a company pipeline.
“If you go to the General Hospital and other private clinics in Omoku, you will see many of the injured people scattered all over the place in both government and private hospitals taking treatment”.
Chairman of Niger Delta Youth Movement, ONELGA chapter, Emeka Ukwuosah, advised youths in the area to engage in meaningful activities and shun oil bunkering.
“Let me join in condemning the oil bunkering going on within ONELGA. And we are also calling on the security agencies to be up and doing and check what is happening within that circle.
“Secondly, we are also calling on the multinationals that own the oil facilities to overhaul their ageing facilities to forestall such incidents”, he stated.
On his part, the Assistant Secretary of a vigilante group in the area, ONELGA Security Peace Advisory Council, Emeka Agbabere, blamed the incident on illegal oil bunkering.
Agbabere said the vigilante group, the Community Development Committee and youths were directed by a monarch in the area to put a stop to oil bunkering activities.
He however expressed dismay that despite their repeated campaigns for the youths to stop illegal bunkering, they turned a deaf ear.
He said, “We advised them to put a stop to it and this is the aftermath of it. When they busted the pipeline, fire engulfed immediately and 19 of them died instantly and about 12 in two different hospitals.”
In its reaction to the incident, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC condemned the unrepentant attitude of those engaging in pipeline vandalism and other illegal oil bunkering activities.
The NSCDC Rivers State Commandant Basil Igwebueze in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune in Port Harcourt affirmed that the fire explosion would not have occurred if the Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipelines were not vandalized by desperate individuals.
He explained that the content being scooped from the vandalised pipeline was Condensate (liquid substance) very close to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) although, when placed under close observation it is a bit different from PMS.
“Information reaching us on the fire explosion suffice that some unscrupulous elements manoeuvre their ways to the Pipeline, vandalized it and started scooping fuel”.
“As a matter of fact and without sounding immodest, the NSCDC Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR. in strong terms condemn all activities amounting to economic sabotage.
In view of the foregoing the Rivers State Command has stepped up its operational efficiency, surveillance and Intelligence expertise in the Protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure with relentless Anti vandalism drive, constant security patrol amongst others.
“We would continue to partner with Sisters Security Agencies most especially the already constituted Joint Security Task Force to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities in Rivers State”.
“It is also very pertinent to condole and commiserate with families of the deceased and those who sustained various degrees of injuries. Notably, during the explosion about 4 farm plantations were destroyed, and 12 persons lost their lives while others were badly injured; all these could have been avoided if our people in Rivers State consciously and truly understood that any act of vandalism or attack against oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure would definitely have a degrading and debilitating effect on the community, the lives and property of people and the nation’s economy at large”.
Recall that a similar incident occurred at an illegal oil refining site in Ibas Community, Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State during which about 20 persons were feared dead.
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