- The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the command had set up an investigation team to move in and unearth the immediate cause of the incident
Several individuals were tragically burned beyond recognition following the explosion of a tanker believed to be utilized by oil bunkerers in the Obitti forest, situated in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
This devastating incident occurred on Tuesday at the Ndorama Pipeline within the Obitti Rubber Estate.
In a viral video on social media, an eyewitness said, “Vandals came to vandalise pipeline right of way. This place is called Ndorama Pipeline, right of way.
“They drove to the place in a tanker suspected to be used for the illegal bunkering. They dug deep into the ground, located the pipeline, and from where they tapped and emptied the oil into a tanker parked inside the bush.
“They used long hoses, connected them to the pipe but unfortunately, luck ran out of them. It exploded and killed many of them. You can see some of them burnt to ashes. Some of them, their bodies are still burning. The tanker is still burning.”
Confirming the incident in an interview with Punch on Thursday, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the command had set up an investigation team to move in and unearth the immediate cause of the incident, as well as arrest the persons involved.
“Our team have moved to the scene to unravel the cause of the fire,” he said.
Meanwhile, Okoye did not reveal the number of casualties in the incident as he said they have yet to ascertain that.
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