Illegal oil bunkerers have been blamed for the recent pipeline explosion in Rivers State.
PUNCH METRO on Friday reported that 12 people lost their lives in a gas explosion that happened in Rumuekpe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
An environmentalist and Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, who confirmed the incident said all individuals who were at the tapping point were killed at the point of explosion.
“The explosion happened around 2am on Friday, March 3, 2023, when one of the buses loaded with crude oil tried to drive to another area where the refining will take place in artisanal refineries.
“The explosion and fire, which left many, including women, dead and burnt beyond recognition with many other vehicles and tricycles burnt to ashes at the tapping point, was said to be on the trans-Niger Delta pipeline that passed through the community,” he said.
He added, “All those who were at the exact tapping point in the pit got killed, while some of those who had loaded the crude and waiting to load, including women, were also killed by the explosion.”
