No few than one hundred people are feared to have been roasted to death, weekend ( last Friday night) after an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi Forrest, Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, Imo state.
six vehicles were also burnt during the incident which has thrown the community into deep mourning.
Journalists who visited the scene of the incident on Saturday reported seeing hundreds of people who visited the place to have a glimpse of the unfortunate incident.
Report say not fewer than 100 roasted bodies were seen at the scene of the fire explosion.
Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Rt Hon Goodluck Opiah, told reporters at the scene that the state government had declared the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, wanted.
He called on the suspect whom he said is on the run to surrender himself to the nearest police station.
The Commissioner noted ,” this is a sad development. The Imo state government has declared wanted, Okenze Onyenwoke, who operates the illegal refinery. I advice him to hand himself over to the police, or any security agency.
“This is wickedness. This is economic sabotage. It is also destroying our youths. I therefore call on the Youths to go away from this kind of illegitimate business. There are so many legitimate businesses one could do to make genuine money.”
An Indigene who simply identified himself as Ejike said, ” no single person survived. Those who were rescued yesterday have all died this morning. The casualty figure is over 100. This is unimaginable.People are rushing to look for their relations but the unfortunate thing is that the victims were burnt beyond recognition.”
