FG orders clampdown on illegal oil refineries nationwide
By Uthman Salami
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies to intensify the clampdown on illegal refineries across the country to safeguard the lives of citizens.
President Buhari stated this while commiserating with the families and the community of the people who lost their lives in the unfortunate gas explosion that affected an illegal refinery at Abaezi community in Ohaji Egbema local government area of Imo State.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu made this known in a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect yesterday.
The President gave these directives 24 hours after the sad report of the death of over 100 people after an illegal refinery at the Abaezi community which exploded with several other people sustaining severe injuries.
The President’s Spokesperson said Buhari described the incident as a tragical catastrophe and national disaster.
He said the responsibility for the loss of lives and property must squarely lie with the sponsors of the illegal refinery, “who must all be caught and made to face justice.”
He said, “The condolences and the full depth and range of the nation’s shock and trauma” to the families of the victims, the Ohaji Egbema community and the government and people of Imo,
He, however, urged community leaders, police, and the secret service never to allow the occurrence of the heart-breaking incident in any part of the country again.
Recall that no fewer than 100 people were burnt to death on Friday night after an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The fire reported to have thrown the community into panic also affected six vehicles which were razed as well with many more suffering severe injuries.
The Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, who is an indigene of Egbema and was at the scene, said that the state government had declared the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, wanted while confirming the incidence.
