The incident, which occurred last Saturday in the Orazi area, resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple. Tragically, one of the victims, a young girl who was injured alongside her father, succumbed to her injuries on Sunday while receiving treatment.
A family source disclosed, “My uncle is still alive and receiving treatment in the hospital, but the daughter, a girl of about eight or nine years, didn’t make it. The family is in deep pain.”
On Monday, Ihunwo visited the explosion site and the injured victims at Sonabel Hospital in Oroazi. In a statement issued by his media aide, Ofonime Okon, the LG chairman expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy. Overcome with emotion, Ihunwo broke down in tears upon seeing the victims’ conditions, which he described as heartbreaking.
Speaking to reporters, Ihunwo vowed to cover the medical expenses of all affected persons and immediately released ₦3 million to the hospital for their treatment.
“It’s unfortunate that this tragedy has occurred so early in the year,” he said. “As a local government, we will ensure that the medical bills of those injured are fully covered. We cannot allow our people to bear this burden alone. We share in their pain and sorrow.”
To prevent future incidents, Ihunwo announced a ban on gas refilling businesses operating within residential areas of Obio/Akpor. He stressed the importance of compliance, warning that violators would face legal consequences.
“I am putting a special committee in place to enforce this ban and ensure compliance across streets and communities,” Ihunwo stated. “Community Development Committee chairmen and youth leaders must join this campaign to protect lives and property. Anyone caught violating this directive will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The LG chairman’s decision aims to mitigate the risk of similar tragedies and safeguard residents from the dangers of improperly managed gas refilling operations.
