The number of people that died during the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) explosion in Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State has risen to four, NEXT learnt yesterday.
It was also discovered that a some villagers are still missing in the incident. The affected pipeline conveys refined petroleum products from the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) to other parts of the country. Firefighters were still battling the inferno as at the time of filling this report on Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the explosion.
The spokesperson of the police force in the state, Charles Muka, said : “A special team has been assigned to the area by the command to ensure that the indigenes are kept away from the scene in order to avoid escalating the situation at hand.” He however could not confirm the casualty figures, saying that no official report of death has been lodged.
An indigene of the community, Efe Akpotu, however disclosed that two more bodies were discovered in the early hours of Wednesday.
“We were able to recover two more corpses in the early hours of the morning during the search conducted around the area by some community youths,” he said. “The bodies have been deposited in a near-by hospital mortuary, with the hope that by the time we collate the list of missing person, we will be able to ascertain the bodies.”
Tragedy at Agbassa Festival
In another tragic development, armed Urhobo youths unleashed mayhem on residents of Warri yesterday during the celebration of the popular Agbassa Festival.
It was gathered that at least one male victim, said to be a commercial motorcyclist, died in a private hospital following an encounter with armed hoodlums hiding under the cover of celebrating the annual feast. The life of a female victim is hanging in the balance, after she was cut severally by her attackers, who also snatched her necklace and handsets at Ginuwa Junction on Tuesday evening.
Dozens of youths, armed with cutlasses and wearing the red regalia of the festival invaded major streets in the Agbassa suburb of Warri to steal and harass helpless residents and passersby.
The worst hit spots are Warri Garage, Hausa Quarters and McDermott Road among others. A journalist, Ambrose Ologide, was also attacked and his camera, telephone and midget recorders stolen.
However, one of the hoodlums was shot in the foot by policemen deployed to restore normalcy.
The police commander in the area, Abuto Yaro, said he was compelled to deploy his men to the area following series of reports of the activities of the youths who were terrorising innocent civilians and traders.
A special police team deployed to the area has calmed the situation at the time of this report, although several shops in the area that is host to most newspaper offices remained shut.