On Thursday evening, a fire apparently triggered by the artisanal refining of stolen crude oil, known as “kpofire,” engulfed many buildings and shops in Rivers state.

According to an eyewitness, roughly 20 businesses were burned down in Elele area of the state, along with the items inside, with no casualties reported thus far.

This is the eighth reported fire in Rivers State in less than two weeks, and the fifth claimed to be caused by stolen crude oil.

Hitvibz gathered that the state fire department failed to arrive at the scene of the accident.

Meanwhile, State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who spoke on a national television program earlier in the day, remained silent on the state’s worrying incidence of fire outbreaks and the growing black soot problem in several regions of the state.

Hitvibz will provide you with further information as it becomes available.

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