The gas explosion which occurred on Sunday in Obotim Nsit village, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, left shocked villagers with various degrees of injuries.
But by Tuesday, two days after the incident, the victims were yet to receive medical attention. The community only received drinks and cash worth fifty-one thousand five hundred naira (one hundred and sixty-three dollars only).
No help came from the local or state governments, or Seven Energy International Ltd, owner of the destroyed pipeline, a PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter who visited the community confirmed.
On Tuesday, the company’s representatives merely presented two cartons of Malta Guinness malt drink, two cartons of Star beer, and a gin to the community. The drinks are worth N6, 500 (about $18).
The village head, Okon Ukpong, confirmed that the community had not received anything before Tuesday.
Seven Energy’s representatives declined to speak to the PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter who met with them at the scene of the explosion.
The company’s officials – three young men – spoke with the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government, Etekamba Umoren, and the Special Assistant on Security Matters to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Iniobong Ekong, who also visited the scene.
The pipeline explosion, which the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for, occurred around 11.30pm Sunday.
The impact of the blast – burnt palm trees, destroyed cassava farms, razed economic trees – could be seen within a 1,000 metres radius.
“I think those who doubt the effect of gas flaring, should come and see this. This is less than 24 hours, and yet the impact is so enormous,” the SSG, Mr. Umoren, said in a sad tone, as he walked back to his car. “No amount of fertilizer can help the soil here.”
Some residents of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom, which is about 20 kilometre from the explosion scene, said they heard the sound of the explosion, and saw thick ball of fire illuminate the skyline.
Justice Udousoro, a sports journalist who lives at Obot Idim which is about five minutes’ drive from Uyo city centre, said the explosion shook his house and others around the neighbouring villages. “I initially thought it was a plane crash,” Mr. Udousoro said.
People living in Obotim Nsit village said they thought the world had come to an end that night.
Terrified by the loud bang and ensuing fire, the villagers said they fled into the bush, falling upon trees and whatever objects stood on their path. Some, including children, fell into pits and wells.
“Some of us ran naked into the bush. It was total confusion,” said an aged woman, Emma Bassey. “I am not sure there is any family which has not suffered one injury or the other.”
Emmanuel Monday, a 35-year-old carpenter who lives with his wife, Enobong, and five children, in Obotim Nsit, said he almost lost his two-year old girl, Joy, who ran out into the bush with others, and fell into a freshly dug 9 -feet deep latrine in a neigbouring compound.
“The fire was running towards our home, we all thought that the world had come to an end,” said Mr. Monday, whose house is more than 700 metres away from the scene. “There was intense heat everywhere.”
Mr. Monday said he was able to grab only one of his five children. Together, they ran through the backdoor into the bush, while his wife grabbed another and ran behind them. The other children followed.
“We heard the cries of a baby near our house that night, and we went into the bush to investigate where it was coming from, and there we saw the little girl inside the pit latrine,” said a middle-aged woman who narrated how Mr. Monday’s daughter was rescued.
Mr. Monday was alerted that his missing daughter had been found, and he went over to pick her. This was around 5am.
The little girl had been crying all day since the incident, the parents said. They suspected she may have sustained internal injuries.
“I don’t have money to take her to hospital,” the father said. “I have bought paracetamol for her because that’s what I could afford.”
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