Community Leader Urges Govt To Create Jobs, As 10 Persons Die in Imo over illegal oil mining

By Ikenna Orioha…

Some Communities in Imo State have been thrown into mourning following the tragic and painful death of over 10 persons, who were mainly breadwinners.

The tragedy happened in the early hours of Monday, 29th January, 2024, as more than 10 persons were burnt to ashes, while many men survived with severe injuries. The survivors are being treated at undisclosed inns within and outside Imo State.

It was alleged that these gas explosion victims were illegally mining gas at INDORAMA Gas Pipeline which is located at Obitti in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State when the tanker with which they were loading the product flamed and exploded.

Exploded tanker at the site

According to a Community Leader in Obitti; the village where the gas explosion took place, Mazi Ifeanyi Amadi, explained that more than 10 persons were burnt to death with several of them sustaining severe degrees of injuries and are being treated in not yet identified hospitals within and outside Imo State.

Amadi hinted that “there is a confirmed incident that more than 10 people were burnt to ashes, as many sustained burnt injuries. This tragic incident happened on Sunday, 28th day of January, 2024. A tanker loading Gas exploded and sparked off fire which resulted in the deaths of over 10 people”.

“We are yet to hear anything from the Imo State Government regarding measures to stop the reoccurring suicide which had continued to destroy unemployed youths who resort to bunkering as a means of getting money and livelihood. While people die, more still go into bunkering to survive poverty, governments neglect on infrastructure and employment”.

He regretted that between 2006, 2008, 2022, 2023 and 2024, more than 50 persons in Imo State had died by Pipeline Explosions. “In fact, between 2006, 2008, 2022, 2023 and 2024, over 50 persons who were breadwinners had perished in Pipeline Explosions. Poverty and lack of social amenities gave rise to these avoidable deaths”.

The Community Leader, recalled with dismay that one of the victims, Ohaji Nwaogarabe (Boss), who hailed from Obitti, Ohaji, was released from prison at the Owerri Correctional Centre 15 months ago over alleged murder offence.

Victim…

“One of the dead men, Ohaji Nwaogarabe (Boss, as he was popularly called), came out from prison at the Owerri Correctional Centre 15 months ago over an alleged felony matter. A year after he went to Prison, Gas Pipeline exploded and over 20 of the vandals perished. His accomplice and bosom friend, Clifford Ote (Isa), was among those who died. If Boss was not in the Prison then Boss would have died on that black day because he was deeply involved in the vandalism of gas at the said Gas Pipeline where many youths have perished in the cause of searching for food”, Amadi outlined.

He said the deceased families were able to identify their corpses and most of them had been committed to mother earth.

“Some of the victims were from Anambra, Rivers, Delta States and North. Some of their bodies have been identified and buried. Many of them were breadwinners whose wives, children and other dependants have been mourning”.

Amadi therefore urged government to create employment, provide working infrastructure such as electricity, road, healthcare, quality education, promote agriculture, encourage trading, commerce and industry, place youths of the oil and gas producing communities on monthly salary/bursary to reduce poverty, hunger, crime, insecurity, oil and gas vandalism, tragic/untimely death in Imo State.

Condemning the incident, a Teacher in the oil rich community, Mr. Ishia Ben, cautioned youths to stop endangering their lives and future through vandalizing oil and gas facilities just to eke out a proper living, advising them to rather engage in positive activities that can fetch them clean money.

In her words, Mrs. Olumma Okoro, a farmer and a resident of the area, hinted that more than 10 persons died in the gas explosion, which she said could have been averted if government and oil companies operating in Imo State had done the needful to cushion poverty, hunger and crime.

She expressed bitterness that facilities/social amenities that encourage productivity thereby making life more bearable at the community are lacking given to incompetence, poor governance, corruption, greed and lackadaisical attitude of those in authority over the welfare and well-being of the people who she said produce the wealth of the state.