Metro

Two Students Die In Delta Tank Farm Explosion

Published

4 years ago

July 11, 2022

Two students of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, have been confirmed dead in the explosion that rocked Matrix Energy Tank Farm at Ifiekporo, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the two students identified as Omare Sunny of the Mechanical Engineering Department and Godstime Chuks of the Petroleum Engineering Department were working as interns in the facility and were on duty when the explosion occurred last Friday night.

It was also gathered from another source that five dead bodies were recovered from the Warri river bank on Sunday afternoon.

The bodies were said to have drowned while trying to flee from the raging inferno.

Confirming the death of the PTI students in a signed press statement made available to journalists in Warri, the President of the institution’s Students Union Government, Comrade Esharedoro Efe, faulted the management of the oil firm for insisting that there was no casualties recorded in the Friday night fire at the company’s gas depot facility.

While revealing that the incident claimed three lives on the spot, with two of them being PTI students working as interns in the facility who were also on duty when the explosion occurred, the statement affirmed that the deceased students were National Diploma graduates, and were undergoing their mandatory one-year industrial training exercise in the company until their demise.

The PTI SUG, therefore, urged the management of Matrix Energy Tank Farm to debunk what it described as the company’s “misguided information” that no casualty was recorded from the explosion that occurred on July 8, 2022, and reach out to the family of the deceased students within 24 hours.

The statement, which was also copied to the Delta State Government, the Department of State Services, and the PTI management, among others, read partly, “Our attention has been drawn to a communique from Matrix Energy Limited stating that no casualty was recorded from the explosion that occurred on the 8th of July, 2022.

“It is on record that two National Diploma graduates of the Petroleum Training Institute, who were undergoing their Industrial Training by name Comr. Omare Sunny and Comr. Godstime Chuks from Mechanical Engineering Department and Petroleum Engineering Department respectively lost their lives to the cold hands of death due to that explosion. Such information is misguided, inhuman, unfair and evil.

“We frown at this occurrence and blame the management for not putting all necessary safety precautions in place which however, has led to the death of two young and vibrant students preparing for Higher National Diploma at their early prime.

“It is based on this, we are calling on the management of Matrix Energy Limited to as a matter of urgency debunk that information as it is capable of causing chaos in the students community and as such reach out to the family of the deceased with immediate effect.

“Failure to do this within the next 24hours, we shall be left with no other option than to mobilise our students in full force to shut down all forms of operations in that company.

“While hoping that justice will be served, we call on all concerned students both past and present to remain calm and not panic as we will be engaging the PTI National Alumni and relevant stakeholders to also swing into full action soonest.

“Until the right thing is done and justice is served nothing shall discourage us”.

Meanwhile, our correspondent has gathered that the remains of five persons were recovered from a river in the aftermath of the explosion that rocked the Matrix Energy Tank Farm.

The lifeless bodies were reportedly recovered by local divers on Sunday afternoon along the Warri river bank.

The discovery of the dead bodies was coming a day after a delegation of the Delta State Government claimed that no life was lost to the inferno.

The government delegation however certified 12 persons injured in the incident and were admitted at the Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji for treatment while Mr. Fred Olumoro, the Matrix Group Head of Safety, hinted that the recovered bodies drowned while fleeing for safety from the fire outbreak.

Metro

Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, have arrested a woman and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The police disclosed that the arrests followed investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering after receiving intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, the suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru to open and operate multiple bank accounts used in carrying out fraudulent transactions.

“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.

The police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

Investigators also alleged that the funds were later moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.

According to the statement, forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities allegedly linked both mother and daughter to the cybercrime operation, leading to their eventual arrest.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace and tackling cybercrime across the country.

The NPF-NCCC also urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official online reporting portal and designated communication channels.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

21 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.