President Buhari: Nigeria in shock following Imo refinery killings

The President of Nigeria has described the country as being in “shock and agony” following the loss of at least 100 people in an explosion at an unauthorized oil refinery.

President Muhammadu Buhari called the tragedy in Imo state of southern Nigeria, a “catastrophe and a national calamity.”

Numerous victims were rendered unrecognizable by the fire.

The authorities are currently on the lookout for the proprietor of the unauthorized refinery.

The decades-long devastation to fishing and farming caused by the oil business, along with the refusal to share the oil revenue, has prompted some to seek alternative sources of income.

Illegal refining is popular because it is perceived to be relatively straightforward to carry out in portions of the oil-rich Niger Delta, despite efforts to put an end to the practice.

Dozens of employees were said to have been working at the refineries at the time of the massive incident.

The death toll continues to increase as rescue crews make their way through the wreckage. According to Ifeanyi Nnaji of the National Emergency Management Agency, the death toll has now reached 109.

“We’ve learned that several deaths have been discovered in adjacent woods and woodlands as some illegal operators and their clientele sought refuge,” he previously told the news agency.

A correspondent for the Reuters news agency spotted charred human remains, as well as bits of items such as flip flops, backpacks, and clothing, scattered around the tragedy site.

Mr. Buhari expressed his sympathies to the families of the victims in a statement on Sunday, saying those responsible for the explosives must be apprehended and brought to justice.

The authorities have been battling the spread of clandestine refineries that process stolen crude oil. The president directed that security personnel redouble their attempts to close these refineries.

Although the origin of the explosion, which occurred sometime overnight into Saturday, is unknown, incidents have occurred often in the past at similarly risky places where safety precautions are rarely implemented.

Concerns have been raised about the lack of protection at such sites, as well as the pollution they create.

However, Nigeria’s official oil refineries are underutilized, resulting in periodic gasoline shortages and price rises throughout the country.

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