On Saturday, an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Nigeria’s southern state of Imo killed over 100 persons, according to official and local sources.
An official confirmed that an explosion occurred late Friday at an illegal oil refinery in Egbema local government area, a border location between the southern states of Imo and Rivers, killing over 100 people.
“Several bodies burnt beyond recognition lay on the ground while others who may have attempted running for safety are seen hanging on some tree branches,” said Fyneface Dumnamene, Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC).
Illegal crude refining is common in the southern-oil region where oil thieves vandalise pipelines to steal crude which they refine to sell at the black market.
Most people in the oil-producing Niger delta live in poverty even though the country is the biggest oil producer on the continent, with around two million barrels per day.
Pipeline fires are commonplace in Nigeria, in part because of poor pipeline maintenance but also because of thieves who vandalise pipelines to siphon off petrol and sell it on the black market.
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