Crude Oil Thieves Die In Rivers Explosion

Several persons have been feared dead at an explosion that occurred at a pipeline tapping point in Rumuekpe community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Naija News understands that the explosion occurred along the Trans-Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP), and those affected are believed to be crude oil thieves who were engaged in the business of illegal refining of stolen crude oil.

It was also learnt that people around the tapping point, who had earlier loaded the stolen crude oil and those who waited for their turn were all burnt in the explosion.

It was gathered that the Executive Director, of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Fyneface, confirmed the incident through the centre’s Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS).

According to him, the explosion happened at about 2 am on Friday morning when a driver kicked the ignition of one of the buses loaded with stolen crude oil.

The bus that exploded, as gathered by Naija News, was being used to transport the stolen crude to the destination of the illegal refinery.

The explosion was said to have burnt many vehicles and tricycles to ashes. Soldiers and police were said to have rushed to secure the scene.