18+ Blast at illegal oil refinery in Nigeria kills at least 18 in southern Nigeria

Blast at illegal oil refinery in Nigeria kills at least 18

At least 18 peoplevdied in southern Nigeria when an illegal oil refinery exploded into flames, a security official and residents said on Tuesday.

The blaze which broke out late on Sunday in Rivers State, occurred when a home-made refinery ignited a nearby oil reservoir, leaving victims severely burned, a security official said.

"25 injured people were rescued," said spokesman for the local Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.

The workers at the site were refining oil taken from a vandalized pipe, according to a local activist. “When they scoop from the point where they vandalized the pipe, they will take to where they were cooking. That is how fire got there.” 18+++ Graphic photos