By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
SCORES of people have been feared burnt to death following an explosion from a crude oil tapping point in Rumuekpe community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Stonix News gathered that the explosion was probably caused by the activities of illegal artisanal refiners operating on the trans-Niger Delta Pipeline in the area.
The explosion has also led to the loss of an unspecified number of lives including women who were burnt beyond recognition and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred in the wee hours of Friday when one of the buses loaded with crude reportedly went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area.
An environmentalist and Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, confirmed the incident.
He said he received news of the incident through its “crude oil spill alert response system.”
The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
