No fewer than ten persons have been killed in an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Uzuaku Community, Ukwa West Council Area of Abia State.
The incident was said to have happened on Friday evening.
It was gathered that three persons died at the scene of the incident and the seven others fatality burnt by the inferno got to the hospital before they died.
It was also learnt that a couple and an only son of another family were among those that died.
“Shell pipeline servicing the Uzuaku/Owaza axis was without crude oil for some weeks and the oil bunkering activities in the area were halted for that period.
“But as soon as pumping of crude oil along the pipeline resumed, illegal refinery operators went back to their business,” a community source, who preferred not to be named disclosed.
