President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the deadly explosion which claimed over 109 lives at an illegal oil refinery in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The president in a statement realesed by his spokesman, directed the nation’s armed forces, security and intelligence agencies to intensify their efforts targeted at eradicating illegal refineries in the southeast and the country at large.
Over the weekend, it was reported that an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ifeanyi Nnaji, who confirmed the incident said the death figures stood at 109 as of Saturday.
“As at this evening (Saturday), we have counted 109 bodies on the ground, while countless others fell into the river and others died inside the refinery.”
Following the unfortunate incident, Buhari charged the the police, and the secret service to never allow the occurrence of the heart-breaking incident in any part of the country again.
According to him, the incident was “catastrophe and a national disaster”.
The president also charged the security agencies to arrest and ensure all individuals operating the illegal refinery face the wrath of the law, saying they are responsible for the needless loss of lives and property over the weekend.
The Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, said the operator of the illegal refinery has been identified.
According to reports, Opiah gave his name as Okenze Onyenwoke, but said he is currently at large, adding that the Imo State Police Command had declared him wanted.
