Fire kills dozens at illegal oil refinery in Nigeria

Ogyem SolomonOctober 4, 2023

Less than a minute

Dozens of people have died following an explosion and fire at an illegal oil refinery in Nigeria’s south.

The incident is said to have happened late on Sunday in Rivers state, but it was only widely reported on Tuesday.

The state commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Basil Igwebueze, confirmed the incident to BBC Pidgin.

He said that 18 people were burnt beyond recognition, while 25 were rescued.

Mr Igwebueze blamed people who vandalise oil pipelines and operate illegal refineries for the deadly incident.

Illegal refining is common in the region, with locals tapping oil from pipelines to sell.

Last year, more than 100 people died following an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Imo state.

Source: bbc.com

Tags

Ogyem SolomonOctober 4, 2023

Less than a minute

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.