Tragedy struck on the night of April 22 at Abaezi Forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, when an illegal refinery went up in flames. Ohaji-Egbema is the latest human tragedy arising from the government’s inability to stop massive oil theft, vandalism and illegal refining, and to safeguard oil facilities. The entire Niger Delta region and other oil-producing states are awash in illegal refineries that source crude by sabotaging and stealing from pipelines. Insiders have long warned that the activities of the illegal refineries, like rupturing pipelines, are ticking bombs. The Ohaji-Egbema tragedy is just one of the recurring fatal explosions at illegal refineries, theft sites and vandalised pipelines.

Source: Punch May 04, 2022 06:12 UTC