Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has decried the latest explosions which occurred in Lagos and Imo states in less than one week and has described the incidences as incessant, disastrous but avoidable.
In a press released issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the minister sympathised with the government and people of Imo, Lagos and Ogun states following a deadly explosion which occurred at an illegal oil refining site on Friday night which killed scores of people at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Earlier on Thursday, a tanker ladden with 45,000 litres of PMS crashed and spilled its content across Lagos and Ogun State along Lagos – Ibadan expressway. A man was reported to have been killed.
Sadiya advised that caution should be applied while plying the roads with inflammable substances while declaring the illegal bunkering of petrol in certain areas as a suicidal.
She said: “The incessant occurrence of explosions in Lagos and Imo states is unfortunate but avoidable.
“The consequences of such dastard acts that led to the death of many people cannot be over-emphasised.
“Illegal bunkering of petroleum products is a punishable offence under the law, therefore, the culprits should be brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
“I sincerely sympathise with the families of the victims and pray for the repose of the souls of the dead.
“I also appeal to the people, especially the youths, to desist from illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the area”.
Meanwhile, Anibeze said rescue operations have commenced to remove several bodies burnt beyond recognition at the scene of the explosion in Imo state.
Six vehicles were also razed during the incident.
