Three teenagers were reportedly feared dead at the weekend following a fire explosion that broke on account of illegal crude oil refining camp located in Ibelebiri and Otuegue 2 communities of Ogbia Local Council Area of Bayelsa State.
The deceased teenagers true identities could not be immediately ascertained. However, community persons who were familiar with the development gave the names of the affected teenagers as Victory Friday, Endurance Glazio and James Abaye.
According to the community account, the teenager who were still students in a secondary school in both communities, were allegedly working with one of them in the group in the camp.
However, the explosion occurred when one of them, who was acting as a security guard around the camp, tried to light a cigarette, which triggered the massive explosion that killed the three teenagers and left one person seriously burnt beyond recognition.
The teenager along with others were allegedly involved in illegal or illicit crude oil bunkering activities.
A community member who wishes to remain anonymous said about 55 persons were similarly burnt to death in same manner in the same illicit crude oil refining camp last year.
According to him, the camp borders the Kolo Creek flow station, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) with heavy military presence.
He said: “The camp has been existing for about six years and it would surprise you to know that the camp is just by the Igbogene-Otuasega Road.
“Before the camp along the road, there is a security post manned by police and after the camp, you have the Kolo Creek flow station that is operated by SPDC.
“That place is also manned by soldiers and yet these boys still operate freely.”
