About 100 persons were killed on Friday night following an explosion at an illegal refinery at Abaezi forest in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
No fewer than six vehicles were also burnt during the explosion, which caused pandemonium in the community.
No fewer than 50 burnt bodies were strewn at the scene of the explosion as of Saturday afternoon, eye witnesses said.
State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, told newsmen at the scene of the incident that the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, had already been declared wanted by the state government.
Opiah advised the runaway refinery owner to surrender himself to the nearest police station.
He said, “This is a sad development. The Imo State Government has declared wanted, Okenze Onyenwoke, who owns this illegal refinery. I advise him to hand himself over to the police or any security agency.
“This is wickedness. This is economic sabotage. It is also destroying our youths. I, therefore, call on the youths to go away from this kind of illegal business. There are so many legitimate businesses one could do to make genuine money.”
Some residents of the community claimed that many of the victims rescued yesterday had died this morning.
They lamented that many of the victims were also burnt beyond recognition.