100 people has been reported dead following an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in southeast Nigeria, according to a local oil official

. The tragedy occurred on Friday night in the Ohaji-Egbema local government area of Imo state. The explosion, which took place at a facility where more than 100 people were working, was reportedly caused by a fire in two fuel storage areas.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari described the incident as a “catastrophe and a national disaster” in a statement.

The blast claimed the lives of dozens of workers who were caught in the explosion, while many others attempted to escape by fleeing into nearby wooded areas.

The death toll is estimated to be around 100, with many of the victims succumbing to severe burns as they tried to escape.

Goodluck Opiah, the Imo commissioner for petroleum resources, stated that many of those who died had run into the bush, where they ultimately perished.

The Nigerian government has responded to the disaster by ordering security forces to intensify their efforts to shut down illegal refineries, which are widespread in southern Nigeria.

Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, faces ongoing challenges with oil storage and the operation of illegal refineries.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported that between January 2021 and February 2022, the country lost at least $3 billion worth of crude oil to theft, with illegal refineries often set up in remote locations to evade detection.

Authorities are currently searching for two suspects believed to be involved in the explosion, though their identities have not been disclosed. Declan Emelumba, the Imo State commissioner for information, confirmed that the police are actively looking for the culprits. A mass burial is being planned for the victims, many of whom were burned beyond recognition.

Environmental officials have begun fumigating the area where the explosion occurred, as such disasters are all too common in Nigeria. Poverty and unemployment, which currently stands at 33% according to government estimates, have driven many young people into illegal activities, including operating unlicensed refineries.

While illegal refineries are more prevalent in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, where militants are known for attacking pipelines and kidnapping oil workers, the problem has also spread to other parts of the country, including Imo state. Earlier this month, Nigeria’s Defense Department announced the busting of 30 illegal oil refineries in the Niger Delta region within just two weeks as part of a task force aimed at curbing crude oil theft.

In response to the explosion, the Nigerian ministry of petroleum has pledged “renewed action” to combat illegal activities in the oil sector. Horatius Egua, a senior official at the ministry, stated that the government and military are intensifying efforts to reduce criminal activities along the country’s oil production lines.

However, Goodluck Opiah, the Imo petroleum commissioner, acknowledged the difficulty of eradicating illegal refineries, comparing the challenge to stopping kidnapping or armed robbery. He expressed concern that despite the recent disaster, illegal refineries are likely to continue to emerge in other locations.