Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has given the directive for the immediate investigation into a refinery that exploded during the weekend and claimed the lives of several persons.
Buhari said the country’s armed forces, security and intelligence agencies should try and intensify efforts in tackling illegal refineries as the tragic incident that occurred at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, LGA, Imo State, could have been avoided.
The President’s order was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu, as his reaction showed that the security operatives need to organise swiftly and clamp down on those running unsanctioned fuel processing plants.
While giving insights on what he described as a “catastrophe and a national disaster,” the President declared that the responsibility for the loss of lives and property must squarely lie with the sponsors of the illegal refinery, “who must all be caught and made to face justice.”
Buhari Sends Condolence Message to Deceased Families
In conveying “the condolences and the full depth and range of the nation’s shock and trauma” to the families of the victims, the Ohaji Egbema community and the government and people of Imo State, the president urged community leaders, the police, and the secret service to never allow the occurrence of the heart-breaking incident in any part of the country again.
