Scores of people died on Friday night after an illegal refinery gut fire at Abaezi Forrest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state.
Also, six vehicles were razed during the incident which had thrown the community off- balance.
Our correspondent who visited the scene of the incident on Saturday saw hundreds of people who visited the place to have a glimpse of the unfortunate development.
Our correspondent counted no fewer than 50 roasted bodies at scene of the fire explosion.
The state Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, told our correspondent at the crime scene that the state government had declared the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, wanted.
He advised the suspect whom he said was on the run to surrender himself at the nearest police station.
The Commissioner said ” this is a sad development. The Imo state government has declared wanted, Okenze Onyenwoke, who owes this illegal refinery. I advice him to hand himself over to the police or any security agency.
“This is wickedness. This is an economic sabotage. It is also destroying our youths. I therefore call on the Youths to go away from this kind of illegitimate business. There are so many legitimate businesses one could do to make genuine money.”
An Indigene of the community, who identified himself simply as Ejike said ” no single person survived. Those who were rescued yesterday have all died this morning. The casualty figure is over 100. This is said. People are rushing to look for their relations but the unfortunate thing is that the victims were burnt beyond recognition.”
