Many people have been feared killed following an explosion from a crude oil tapping point in Rumuekpe community in Emuoha local government area of Rivers state.
Blueprint reports that the explosion was believed to have been caused by the activities of illegal artisanal refiners operating on the trans-Niger Delta Pipeline in the area.
Our Correspondent further gathered that It also led to the loss of an unspecified number of lives including women, some of whom were burnt beyond recognition in addition to the destruction of property worth millions of the Naira.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday, when one of the buses loaded with crude went up in flames while trying to navigate to an illegal refining point in the area.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Rivers state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the Divisional Police Officer was already on his way to the scene.
At the time of filing in this report, the police authorities were yet to release an official statement on the incident.