A bunkering site at Rumuekpe Community in the Emohua local government area of Rivers exploded around 2: a.m. Friday, reportedly killing several people. 

The police spokesman in Rivers, Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to Peoples Gazette, although the police have yet to release an official statement. 

The explosion occurred at a tapping point on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP), which passed through the community.

The explosion was caused by a spark from a bus loaded with crude oil that was about to be transported to the refinery point. The resulting fire burnt, allegedly killing scores of people at the site. 

Executive director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, narrated the incident in a statement issued in Port Harcourt. 

“The explosion and fire which has left dozens, including women dead, and burnt beyond recognition with many other vehicles and tricycles burnt to ashes at the tapping point said to be on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) that passed through the community,” said Mr Fyneface. “All those who were at the exact tapping point in the ‘pit’ got killed while some of those who had loaded the crude and waiting to load, including women, have been killed by the explosion.”

He added, “Advocacy Centre can confirm from the eyewitness information and other sources that confirmed the incident at the community that men of the Nigeria Armed Forces are already at the scene of the incident with the Police said to be on the way to the scene, making it difficult for photographs and videos to be taken.”