At least five people died in an explosion that rocked an illegal bunkering site in Obitti, an oil-producing community in Imo State, on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, attributed the incident to the illegal activities of oil thieves in the area, particularly at the Obitti Rubber Estate, known for its nefarious oil vandalism.
Okoye further stated that five vandals lost their lives, a fuel tanker was engulfed in flames, and numerous properties and farmlands were destroyed.
Channels Television quoted eyewitnesses to have reported that the explosion was triggered by a clash between rival oil thieves during the loading of a crude oil tanker, leading to a gunfight.
In response to this unfortunate event, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, established a highly skilled investigation team to promptly determine the root cause of the incident and apprehend those responsible.
