October 02, (THEWILL) – At least 17 persons including a pregnant woman, have been reported killed, following a pipeline explosion on Sunday, at an illegal crude oil refining site at Rumucholu village in the Ibaa community of Emoha local government area of Rivers State.
Sources in the community told newsmen that the explosion occurred when suspected illegal oil bunkerers attempted to set up an illegal refinery site at the location.
Chief security officer (CSO) of Ibaa community, Rufus Welekwe, who confirmed the incident, appealed to youths of the community to engage themselves in legitimate ventures.
THEWILL gathered that operatives of the 26 Support Engineer Regiment (SER-Nigerian Army Engineers) in collaboration with a surveillance firm, Pipeline Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (PINL) had about two weeks ago launched massive and intensive clampdown and destruction of illegal refineries along the right of way and its corridor.
A representative of PINL, who spoke with journalists at the scene of the incident, said feedback from some community members revealed that the victims were burnt due to the illegal refining at the location as the illicit business was hurriedly being carried out for fear detection by the surveillance company.
The PINL representative said his team, along with some stakeholders, visited the scene.
