Tragedy had struck and took away over 100 youths to death at Abaezi community, Ohaji/Egbema local government area, Imo State, leaving scores to languish in severe burns as communities and bereaved families were thrown into sorrow, agony and perplexity, for them life no longer bears good meaning, but grief, sadness, mourning and hopelessness.
The incident which occurred around 11:PM on Friday as a result of a break out of fire at the said illegal oil bunkering site forest, Abaezi, Egbema, where many souls were roasted to death, was not actually clear how the fire got into the forest and then the oil pipes and caused damage to these lives who are said to be looking for greener pastures with many of them being core breadwinners and chief financiers of their various families.
Eyewitnesses who did not want their names in print, recounted that the incident happened “at 11: Pm”, narrating that heavil horrifying smoke oozing from the illegal oil bunkering site, Abaezi forest, alarmed villagers of the danger.
“Others also sustained various degrees of burns from the fire outbreak”.
They said that villagers discovered that over 100 people were burnt to death, about one 150 sustained serious injuries who were rushed into the towns for medical treatment. They expressed bitterness over the unfortunate incident, saying there have been sorrows and deep mournings by the villagers and their sympathizers.
Reacting through the Commissioner of Petroleum Resources, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nana Opiah, the Imo State Government, noted that the fire took the lives of many youths at the Abaezi forest owing to alleged illegal oil bunkering.
Opiah added that the owner of the illegal refinery had been declared wanted by government.
Some sympathisers said it was disheartening that lives are being recklessly wasted across Imo and Rivers States due to illegal oil bunkering, stressing that several of those involved in illegal oil bunkering do so to fend for themselves and their families since government does not care to provide employment for youths or empowerment opportunities for the communities who lay the golden eggs that feed the world and impoverish owners of the oil.
They called on government to provide employment, infrastructure that can ginger host oil producing communities to engage on productive and meaningful activities to eke out a proper living, reminding oil companies operating in Imo State to help government install needed infrastructure like electricity, good road, portable water, health centers and good and clean market environment and structures, saying such a measure can contain youth restiveness and illegal oil bunkering.
