The number of deaths respective to the illegal oil refinery explosion at Abaezi, Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State has increased to 150. Acting Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Imo-Abia office, Ifeanyi Nnaji, made this known to newsmen in Owerri, yesterday. Nnaji said five corpses were found at the Orashi River, while five others gave up the ghost at the hospitals they were taken for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Igbo National Council (INC) urges President Muhammadu Buhari and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to visit the venue of the felonious oil refinery at Abaezi, Ohaji/Egbema. President General of the group, Chilos Godsent, in a statement, yesterday, angers at the hesitation by both to visit the site for an on-the-spot-assessment. He equally urged Mr. President to declare a state of emergency on unemployment which,is suspected, led to the illegal activities in the forest.
He said: “The INC is amazed that for more seventy hours after the deadly incident, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and President Muhammadu Buhari however have not physically visited the deadly site to sympathize with the Abaezi people, Ohaji Egbema People, Imo people, the Igbo Nation and Nigeria for this great generational loss.
“Standing upon the above, the Igbo National Council (INC), therefore, summons the Imo State governor and President Buhari to immediately visit the site and, also, declare a state of emergency on youth employment in the South East and South South geopolitical regions, in other to curtail the reocurrence of such demonic incident.
“INC, therefore, demands immediate arrest and prosecution of the owners of the illegal site, inclusive of all the security agents who were safeguarding and pioneering the operation of such an illegal refinery site,” Godsent stated. Godsent also pleaded for a census by both the federal and Imo State governments, to enable it to uncover the proper number of victims affected at the explosion site, and warned the youths of the area to turn away from illegal oil mining.
