OIL & GAS: No fewer than 5 persons have been confirmed dead and many more battling to survive as they lay injured, following an explosion, Sunday in Eteo Community, Eleme LGA of Rivers State.
The explosion occurred as security agencies attempted to set ablaze two tanks loaded with illegally refined petroleum products in the forest belonging to Eteo Community.
Basic Facts
- There was an explosion on Sunday at Eteo Community, Eleme LGA of Rivers State.
- The Community accused security agencies of burning illegally refined petroleum products in their Community.
- Security agencies acknowledged bringing two tanks of 33 litres each to Eteo Community.
What We Know
It was a black weekend at Eteo Community in Eleme LGA of Rivers State, as the anti-bunkering unit team and police led two tankers filled with petroleum products to the forest of Eteo Community apparently to dispose of it but it exploded and burnt some victims.
One version of the story following the incident is that the victims were said to be fetching petroleum products from the tankers intercepted and detained by the police when they exploded.
However, some community persons disputed this. Speaking to Rhythm (a local radio station) News, one Mrs Eunice who has been widowed from the explosion said her husband was not scooping fuel but had gone there to monitor the tankers.
However, trouble started as the security agencies could not control the fire they set on the fuel tanks. Mrs Eunice`s account was also corroborated by other persons who claimed some of the victims were unfortunately caught up by the explosions as they sought to know why their community is used as a dump and destruction site for illegal products.
An environmental right activities and convener of the Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, said his investigation showed the Anti-Bunkering team of the Police seized and set on fire two 33,000 litres tankers loaded with Petroleum products.
The Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko also confirmed the incident to journalists. However, Iringe-Koko said she had not been briefed about the details of the incident.
The spokesman of National Security and Civil Defence Commission (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, confirmed the accident. While commiserating with the families of the victims, he also warned against improper handling of inflammable petroleum products.
According to him, his agency does not subscribe to burning of seized illegally refined petroleum products due to catastrophic effects on humans and the environment.
Notable Quotes
Fyneface Dumnamene, an Environmental Rights Activist while reacting to the incident, said:
“My investigation shows the Anti-Bunkering team of the Police set the two 33,000 litres tankers loaded with Petroleum products that were seized on fire.”
The spokesman of NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele commented as follows:
“We do not subscribe to burning of seized illegally refined petroleum products due to catastrophic effects on humans and the environment.”
Catch-up
This is not the first time we will witness needless death from destroying seized petroleum products or even from illegal petroleum activities.
Clariform recall that Eteo Community was in court for a long time in a case it instituted against Shell petroleum over environmental pollution of the community.
The UK court has since ruled in the favour of the community. However, this community like many others are yet to see the positive impact of petroleum activities. Rather, they faced with not just failed promises but death.
Takeaway
Clariform News desk wonders why security agencies still adopt crude method to dispose of seized products. Such products and indeed any product at all that must be destroyed should be done far from human communities.
Destruction of illegally produced goods should be carried out in such a manner to pose minimal pollution and to the environment, economic and human lives and properties.
