It is barely a week when a fire out break roasted to death no fewer than 20 persons, several others burnt at an illegal refinery, yet another fire incident has hit the same point at Egbeh Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The first fire out break rocked the illegal refinery last Tuesday at about 11:30, pm, killing many youths of the surrounding communities, such as Ula-Ubie, Egbeh, Ogoda, Oyigba, among others.
Narrating the story, an insider said hoodlums dressed in army uniform repeatedly stormed the business area, extorting money from the operators of the local refinery.
The source said that when the extortion became unbearable to the oil distillers, popularly called “Kpo-fire” in the area, the managers decided to fight to the finish. One of them threw up the fire that did not only ravage the refinery but also the many buyers, labourers, and managers of the illegal refinery.
The Tide gathered that while many corpses were burnt beyond recognition, some died in fish ponds and bushes as they scampered for safety when the fire broke out. But others, who died while receiving treatment at traditional herbal homes in Allwell David, Egwele Otuyah, Unwozhinim Godwin, Goodnews Alabo, and Okpoh Chacha.
Meanwhile, Ebiga Agi, Bright Alabo, Doctor Otuyah, Amadi Amanukpo, Julius Okiti and others sustained high degree of injury and were receiving treatment at herbal homes.
Our correspondent reports that three persons who resumed operation at about 10:25pm on Wednesday came out unhurt when the fire re-occurred.
Community sources disclosed that fear arising from recent fire incident which claimed many lives has gripped the youths of the area, who are now on sudden vacation.
However, recall that army had razed houses belonging to Messres Nwachukwu Otuyah and Obigiri Otuyah and also a car suspected to be storing and carrying the illegal product recently at the community, an action which forced the residents to flee home.
When contacted the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, said he was not aware of such incident.

By: Agimo, Emenike Benson