At least 100 people were killed Friday night when an illegal refinery exploded in the Abaezi forest in Imo State’s Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area.
Six vehicles were also destroyed in the panic-stricken incident.
According to reports, a large number of people visited the place to have a glimpse of the unfortunate development.
At the scene of the explosion, media personnel counted no fewer than 50 bodies that had been burned beyond recognition.
The state Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, who is an indigene of Egbema, told the media at the scene that the state government had declared the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, wanted.
He advised the suspect whom he said was on the run to turn himself in at the nearest police station.
The commissioner said, “This is a sad development. The Imo State Government has declared wanted, Okenze Onyenwoke, who owns this illegal refinery. I advise 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 illegal business. There are so many legitimate businesses one could do to make genuine money.”
An indigene of the community who identified himself simply as Ejike said, “Nobody survived the incident. Those who were rescued yesterday have all died this morning. The casualty figure is over 100. This is sad. People are rushing to look for their relations but the unfortunate thing is that the victims were burnt beyond recognition.”