IMO: 109 illegal refiners burnt to death in explosion

No fewer than 109 persons have been burnt to death I explosion at an illegal oil refinery site at Abacheke Kpofire in Egbema community, Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo.

Many were injured, and properties, including six cars were burnt in the Friday night fire.

NEMA’s Head of Operations. Ifeanyi Nnaji said only 20 persons died during the inferno earlier on Saturday.

But in an update on Saturday, Nnaji said so far 109 bodies had been recovered while others were still missing.

“It was more serious than we envisaged. As of this evening, we have counted 109 bodies on the ground while countless others fell into the river and others died inside the refinery.”

The Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, revealed that the operator of the illegal refinery identified as Okenze Onyenwoke, is on the run.