An explosion has rocked Rumuekpe Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State leaving many dead and others burnt beyond recognition.

According to eyewitnesses, the explosion, which occurred at about 2am on Friday, March 3, 2023, happened at a crude oil tapping point on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) in Rumuekpe.

this was when one of the buses, which has been loaded with crude oil to be taken to where the refining will take place in an artisanal refinery, was hit by another vehicle leading to the explosion.

Those who were at the exact tapping point in the pit and those who were waiting to take-off after loading were consumed by the explosion.

Checks, so far, reveal that five vehicles, four tricycles and one motorcycle were also burnt down to ashes.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, says the preliminary investigation by the Police indicates that the victims were scooping crude products when the site caught fire.

So far, about 12 persons, whose identities of the victims are still unknown, are believed to have been burnt to death.

in a statement on Friday, March 3, 2023, the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) Nigeria, Dumnamene Fyneface said that the explosion and fire has left dozens including women dead and burnt beyond recognition.

With many other vehicles and tricycles burnt to ashes at a tapping point on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) that passed through the community, he also noted that the center got the information through its Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS).