Omoku, Rivers State – April 26, 2025 – Five people, including four women, have died in a fire caused by an explosion at an illegal fuel storage site in Omoku, Rivers State.
The explosion happened around 11 AM on Saturday in a residential building used to store illegally refined kerosene and other petroleum products. Reports say the fire started when a resident tried to cook noodles using a stove, which ignited the stored fuel.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident. The group’s Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, said the building was used to store and sell illegal fuel to people in the area.
“Five people died in the fire, including one woman who came to buy the fuel,” Dr. Dumnamene said. “The victims were burnt beyond recognition.”
He warned against illegal oil refining and called on the Federal Government to support legal modular refineries in the Niger Delta. He said this would help stop dangerous practices like this and reduce the number of deaths caused by fuel explosions.
Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko also confirmed the deaths and said an investigation is ongoing.
“A woman was making noodles on a stove when the fire broke out,” she said. “Sadly, four women and one man died in the fire.”
Danger of Illegal Fuel Storage
This is not the first time such a tragedy has happened in the Niger Delta. Many people risk their lives by storing and selling illegal fuel in their homes. Experts say the government needs to take quick action to stop this and create safer ways for people to earn a living.
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