Barely two weeks after fire explosion killed over 100 persons at an illegal crude oil refining site at Abaeze forest in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area in Imo State, another fire explosion has occurred at an illegal refinery in the Uzuaku Community in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State claiming the lives of a husband and wife together with that of an only son from another family.
The incident, which was said to have caused anguish in the homes of many families in the Community, happened in the night of Friday.
According to our sources, the Shell pipeline that services the Uzuaku / Owaza axis have not had crude oil running through the pipeline for some weeks leading to the stoppage of illegal oil bunkering activities in the area. The Source added that the resumption of the pumping of crude oil along the pipeline within the week may have prompted the illegal refinery operators to go back to their business.
A community leader, who confirmed the incident, said while the persons that were burnt to death at the scene of the incident were buried immediately, a few others died later at the hospital and some were still recovering.
The source also said the death toll so far has hit close to 10.
