2022 Imo-Rivers explosion

2022 Imo-Rivers explosion

Date	22 April 2022
Location	Imo State, Rivers State, Nigeria
Type	explosion and fire
Deaths	110
Non-fatal injuries	unknown

Introduction

The Imo-Rivers Explosion occurred at the site of an illegal oil refinery in Southern Nigeria on 22 April 2022. It happened late at night on the border between Imo State and Rivers State. Eyewitnesses described a loud noise followed by a huge fire that could be seen burning above the Abaezi forest.^[1]The initial death toll was thought to be around 60 people but as the days passed, more bodies were found, with the final estimate suggesting that 110 people died and over 100 more were seriously injured.^[2][3] The casualties were predominantly young people who were working at the illegal refinery, with many burned beyond recognition due to the resultant fire.^[4]

Background

Map of Niger Delta with states numbered 1-9 1. Abia, 2. Akwa Ibom, 3. Bayelsa, 4. Cross River, 5. Delta, 6. Edo, 7.Imo, 8. Ondo, 9. Rivers

The country of Nigeria is responsible for the majority of oil production and export in West Africa with multiple official oil refineries throughout the Niger Delta area.^[5] Despite the high revenue generated by the oil refineries, little of that money finds its way into the local economy and unemployment and poverty are high. The official oil refineries do not always work to full capacity, so despite the large amount of oil produced, there are often shortages in the local area, with high prices being charged.^[4] The oil industry has been implicated in widespread pollution in the area, which impacts the health and livelihoods of local people.^[4][6]

As a consequence of unemployment and poverty, local people have turned to illegal oil refining or bunkering as a way of obtaining fuel and making money, even though the dangers of this practice are known.^[7] Those running the illegal oil refineries drill down into the network of underground oil pipelines that run through this area and siphon off crude oil, storing this oil in containers hidden in the forests. There are frequent spillages that contaminate the ground and rivers, causing environmental damage. To produce the different fuel types such as kerosene and diesel, the crude oil is heated up to different temperatures and then cooled down. This process produces gas which is often burned off, contributing to further pollution. Because the process is unregulated and has few safety guards, accidents can cause explosions and fire, which is what probably happened on this occasion.^[6] From a financial perspective, it is estimated that the illegal oil trade is responsible for the loss of 200,000 barrels of oil a day, or measured in a different way, £2.4 billion ($3 billion) lost to the Nigerian economy per year.^[5][6]

Illegal oil refineries were very common in Rivers State, so in February 2022 the Rivers State Government started a clampdown on illegal bunkering sites with some success. This resulted in the activity moving over the border into Imo State where this explosion and fire occurred. Since the disaster, over 150 other bunkering sites have been identified in Imo State and there is some suspicion that law-enforcement agencies may be complicit in the bunkering industry, as the size and extent of the operations would have been difficult to hide.^[7]

Geographical and physical impact

The 2022 Imo Rivers explosion resulted in severe geographical and physical impacts across the boundary region between Imo and Rivers States in southeastern Nigeria. The blast occurred in the Abaezi forest, which spans the border of the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and Rivers State. The explosion destroyed a substantial portion of the forest, converting previously dense vegetation into a scorched landscape characterised by ash, soot, and melted debris. This event caused lasting damage to the physical environment.

The explosion and ensuing fire were catastrophic in human and environmental terms. Approximately 110 people were killed and burned beyond recognition, while an unknown number of remains were later discovered amidst the wreckage.^[8] Some victims died later in the hospital from severe burns sustained during the incident.^[9] Many of the charred bodies were carried away and laid to rest by families early on, while about 50 victims were buried in mass graves near the site due to the extent of the burns and the difficulty of identification.^[10] Others who survived were left with severe burn injuries, many requiring prolonged medical care.

The immediate area bore heavy physical damage. Burnt palm trees, cars, and vans were scattered around the forest clearing following the weekend explosion, providing evidence of the fire's intensity and the heat it generated. The blast also obliterated makeshift refining installations, storage tanks, and equipment used in the illegal refining process. A Reuters journalist reported seeing scattered pieces of personal belongings, such as flip-flops, bags, and clothing, dispersed throughout the disaster area. ^[4] This scattering of debris and destruction of personal property highlighted the human toll and the sheer violence of the explosion.

The soil and vegetation surrounding the epicentre were heavily contaminated by crude oil, soot, and unburned petroleum residue. Pools of thick black oil and tar-like deposits covered the ground, seeping into the soil and altering its structure. Contaminated runoff flowed into nearby streams, resulting in water pollution and the spread of hydrocarbons into local waterways. The incident further exacerbated the long-standing damage to fishing and farming that had already been caused by years of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta. The contamination of soil and water has reduced agricultural productivity and harmed aquatic life, deepening the environmental crisis faced by local communities that depend on these resources.

Air quality deteriorated sharply during and after the explosion. Dense black smoke containing soot, particulate matter, and volatile hydrocarbons filled the atmosphere, drifting over nearby settlements and creating respiratory hazards. The intense heat and prolonged burning released toxic fumes, leaving lingering smells of petroleum and charred organic material.

Despite periodic crackdowns, illegal refineries still litter the swamps, creeks, and waters of the impoverished Niger Delta, continuing to cause oil spills, fires, and environmental pollution.^[11] The 2022 Imo Rivers explosion stands as a stark reminder of the physical devastation and environmental degradation wrought by such secret operations. The once-forested area of Abaezi now bears visible scars of burned vegetation, damaged soils, and abandoned machinery, marking a landscape profoundly altered by both human activity and tragedy.

Local response

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari described the incident as a "catastrophe and a national disaster," and pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible. He also promised to intensify efforts to shut down similar illegal refineries to prevent future tragedies.^[10][12]

The Imo State Government declared Okenze Onyenwoke wanted in connection with the explosion in the Abaezi community.^[13] Local officials, including Marcellinius Amadioha, suggested that lax oversight by security agencies may have contributed to the continued operation of illegal refineries in the region.^[10]

Goodluck Opiah, the Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, stated that the government would intensify its crackdown on illegal oil bunkering activities.^[13] Tunji Oyebanji, chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Downstream Group, recommended harsher penalties to increase the economic risks for illegal operators and their clients, thereby reducing incentives for such activities.^[14]

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an environmental coalition, attributed the growth of illegal refining to unemployment, poverty, and inadequate security around oil installations in the Niger Delta. The group urged the government to address these underlying issues by providing alternative employment opportunities for youth.^[12] HOMEF also criticized the government’s reliance on military responses, arguing that such conditions make "death by roasting" appear to be the best survival option for some residents of the Niger Delta.^[12]

Local youth leader Bright Onyenwoke echoed similar sentiments, noting that despite the life‑threatening risks, many individuals are driven to participate in illegal refining due to a lack of job opportunities.^[10]

Operators of illegal refineries reportedly expressed their intention to continue the business despite the risks. They claimed the explosion was a rare occurrence among over 150 bunkering sites and suggested that the tragedy may have been caused by mistakes made by oil buyers.^[13]

Some operators alleged that illegal refinery operations could not exist without the involvement of landowners, security personnel, and influential community leaders.^[13] One operator dismissed concerns about environmental pollution, stating that survival needs outweighed ecological considerations.^[15]

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) expressed condolences to the Imo State Government following the explosion.^[16]

Aftermath

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reported that 6,800 illegal refineries had been deactivated across Nigeria between 2022 and 2024.^[17]

Short- and longer-term health consequences

When confronted with large-scale explosions and associated fires, the acute consequences typically include fatal thermal injuries, extensive burns, traumatic amputations, blunt and penetrating trauma, and acute inhalation injuries. Survivors of severe burns or blast trauma frequently require critical care surgery, reconstructive procedures, and prolonged hospitalisation for rehabilitation. These immediate clinical needs represent a typical pattern described in the medical literature concerning explosions and burns.

From a public health perspective, the acute effects of thermal injuries, inhalation injuries, and multiple traumas resulting from large-scale explosions and fires represent the “front-end” manifestations within a longer continuum of harm, with subsequent impacts and consequences emerging thereafter. Furthermore, survivors suffering severe burns or compromised respiratory function often require protracted rehabilitation, while facing significantly heightened risks of infection, contractures, and disability. Consequently, the challenge extends beyond clinical care to the absence of systematic follow-up mechanisms in many underdeveloped or resource-constrained regions. This results in severe gaps in data regarding long-term morbidity and mortality rates, casting doubt on the efficacy of post-disaster monitoring frameworks and undermining meaningful reflection on whether lessons from previous mass casualty events have been effectively applied.

The crux of the matter lies in the fact that much of the compelling evidence indicating that respiratory and neurocognitive impairments may persist for years following disasters often stems from research conducted in high-income nations. To date, it remains unclear how environmental conditions, healthcare system capacity, and socioeconomic circumstances influence these health issues among affected populations and regions in Nigeria. This research cannot be analysed by simply applying external disaster medicine models. The data gap in this field underscores the critical importance and necessity of conducting localised epidemiological studies.

Moreover, psychological factors among survivors and societal-level considerations will further compound the complexity and difficulty of post-disaster recovery. While data on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders have been extensively documented in disaster contexts, awareness and treatment of these issues remain markedly inadequate in regions where mental illness is stigmatised or where mental health infrastructure is underdeveloped. Therefore, analytical approaches must not only catalogue types of mental disorders but also investigate how cultural, institutional, and regional policy barriers contribute to enduring psychosocial outcomes.

Finally, the potential risks arising from chronic toxicological effects caused by chemical pollutants highlight the intersection of health governance and environmental governance. Without systematic chemical identification and exposure assessment, causal inferences will remain speculative. The crux lies in whether environmental monitoring and health surveillance can be integrated into long-term disaster response policies – an area often lacking substantiated evidence. Therefore, evaluating these limitations will significantly impact the comprehensive understanding of health consequences, while also serving as the fundamental safeguard against the recurrence of similar major incidents.

Lessons learnt

The Imo Rivers Explosion shows that illegal oil refining poses a safety hazard. And the Government must take decisive action to resolve this issue. Illegal refining is attractive. In parts of the Niger Delta, where oil resources are abundant, such practices are still relatively easy to carry out, despite measures taken by the authorities to curb them. ^[4] Official reports state that Nigeria, which is the largest producer and exporter of oil in Africa, loses about 200,000 barrels of oil every day. This loss, which is more than 10% of its total production, is mainly due to people stealing oil or damaging pipelines illegally. As a result, oil companies are often compelled to declare force majeure on their oil and gas exports.^[18] This indicates that despite stricter regulatory measures from the government, the underlying problem continues to persist.

The incident has prompted the responsible authorities to exercise greater vigilance. Both the public and the government must be aware that this illegal act will have serious consequences. According to reports, more than 100 people died, mostly young people, and many cars and other property were destroyed. The scale of the illegal refinery operation suggests that it could not have functioned without the implicit consent of relevant individuals and departments. In fact, some of the vehicles were reportedly destroyed while waiting to purchase illegal fuel, which means that the facility was a well-known and active business within the community.^[7] The event reflects both a failure in official regulation and a lack of public awareness regarding its dangers. It is essential for the government to introduce robust measures to tackle illicit activities, combined with efforts to educate the population and enhance their safety consciousness.

Furthermore, the local medical services were shown to lack the capacity to handle a casualty count of this magnitude. A witness said about 150 people with severe burns were rushed to the village health center for treatment. But he said many victims were turned away by the health center.^[1] The incident revealed shortcomings in the management and coordination of the local health system, which led to delays in treatment for some of the injured. The local health system must address the problems revealed by the incident to better protect public health and safety.

The disaster also revealed the social and economic challenges problems in the Niger Delta region. The damage to fishing and farming caused by the oil industry over the decades and the failure to share the oil wealth has led some to lose the opportunity to make money. This situation has led some people to seek alternative sources of income.^[4] According to another report, illegal refining has become a major source of employment in the Niger Delta over the past decade, at the same time as unemployment rates have soared nationally.^[6] As the local oil industry has developed, local youth have lacked opportunities to make a living, which has led them to enter the industry even in the face of danger. For this reason, solutions that only target illegal activities are inadequate. Sustainable approaches must include economic development plans for the communities involved.