Incident Report

Subject:        NIGERIA - 10 Feared Dead In WARRI Refinery Explosion – MEND Claims Responsibility          

Date of Email report:   Wed 23/10/2013

Report Detail:

The nation was yesterday saved from another disaster of huge magnitude with the timely and decisive control of a fire that gutted a section of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State. LEADERSHIP gathered that the fire started at about 11am from one of the refining plants and was on the verge of spreading but for the timely intervention of fire fighters.  It was learnt that fire fighters from Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), (Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the state’s fire fighters as well as the standby fire fighters from the WRPC and that of PPMC battled for about two hours before the raging inferno was brought under control.   “The fire was immediately put under control by fire services of surrounding oil companies including Chevron Nigeria Limited and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Calm has since returned to the area and business going on and not disrupted,” a security source disclosed.

LEADERSHIP observed that the ugly incident caused pandemonium among residents of Warri and environs who made frantic calls to relations to steer clear of the oil rich city to avoid being caught in anticipated explosion.   “Yes, we had to call relations to avoid coming to Warri so as to avoid being caught in any explosion associated with such fire involving oil facilities. Mind you, this is not the first time we have experienced conflagration in oil-related matters. Jesse in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State is still fresh in our memories”, a resident who did not want his name in print said.  None of the officials of the WRPC was ready to comment on the incident but instead referred journalists  to the NNPC office in Abuja for official confirmation.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), refused to pick calls but the Police Commissioner Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba told journalists on telephone that six suspected persons had been arrested in connection with the inferno, adding that investigation was ongoing. 

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has  claimed responsibility for the  attack on the Gas section of the NNPC Refinery in Warri, Delta State, claiming that the action was done  in protest against the unsustainable and alleged fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty Programme that has gulped billions of naira.  In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday  in Yenagoa by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, the group said,  “MEND has taken responsibility for the sabotage this morning, Tuesday 22 October, 2013, inside the NNPC Refinery in Warri, Delta State of Nigeria. ‘Hurricane Exodus’ was intended to burn down the entire refining facility. 

“As long as President Goodluck Jonathan continues to rely on an unsustainable and fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty programme, peace and security will continue to elude his government in the region. ‘Hurricane Exodus’ is on course!”

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