The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of five individuals following a fire outbreak at a storage facility for illegally refined petroleum products in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident, said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. According to Iringe-Koko, the inferno started when a resident, while using a cooking stove to prepare noodles, ignited the highly flammable materials stored at the facility.
“What really caused the fire was that a resident brought a cooking stove to the place and was preparing noodles, which ignited the fire,” she explained. She disclosed that four women, including the one cooking and another who had come to purchase condensate (illegally refined kerosene), were burnt beyond recognition and died on the spot.
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A fifth victim also lost their life in the incident.The tragic explosion reportedly occurred in a residential house where illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, were being stored and sold to residents in the area.
Authorities have reiterated warnings against the handling and storage of illegally refined petroleum products, citing the severe risks to lives and property.
