Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the Shell pipeline that services the Uzuaku/Owaza area have not had crude oil running through it for several weeks leading to the stoppage of illegal oil bunkering activities in the area.
The Sources added that on resumption of pumping of crude oil along the pipeline within the week, the illegal refinery operators returned to their illegal business.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that an explosion ensued which claimed many lives, including a man and his wife as well as an only son from another family.
Oil bunkering operators were alleged to have relocated to the Owaza community, a boundary town with Rivers state since Governor Nyesom Wike outlawed oil bunkering in the state.
A community leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the persons that were burnt to death at the scene of the incident were buried immediately, while few others died later at the hospital.
He said; “The explosion was caused by the activities of some people who operate illegal refinery in the Uzuaku/ Owaza axis. The problem was that the Shell has stopped pumping crude oil through the pipeline. But last week, they resumed pumping and the illegal refinery operators returned to business and this led to a heavy explosion. For now, nobody can tell the number of people who died in the explosion because they were buried immediately. Others died at the hospital.There were also people from neigbouring communities who sustained severe burns.”
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Petroleum, Abia State, Chief Eze Nwanganga was unsuccessful.
