Tragedy struck Saturday as over 100 youths were killed during a fire outbreak in an illegal crude oil refinery complex in Abaezi forest, in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Over 200 people were also injured in the inferno
Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Goodluck Opiah, who spoke on behalf of the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma of during on the spot assessment to the scene, said the fire claimed the lives of a large number of young people.
He said, “at the moment, I can’t really confirm the number of the deceased because many family members have removed the corpses of so many others.”
According to Opiah, the owner of the illegal refinary ,Okenze Onyewoke, has been declared wanted by Imo State government.
He said, “apart from this calamity, the act has destroyed the aquatic life of the community. Our people before now are predominantly farmers and fishermen”.
