Fire from illegal bunkering razes down COEWA filling station, others in Delta

Fire has razed down the College of Education, Warri Senior Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society in the early hours of Friday in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Property worth millions of Naira were also destroyed in the inferno.

This development has resulted to the arrest of the Chairman of the COEWA Senior Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, Chief Francis Ovierovie and the Manager of the filling station for questioning.

It was learnt that the fire started as a result of an illegal bunkering site allegedly operated by an unidentified woman behind the filling station.

An eyewitness who craved anonymity said the generator used in powering the place where the illegal product was allegedly being stored behind the filling station developed a fault and became too hot. Consequently, the drums containing illegal oil went up in flames.

The eyewitness stated that the fire overpowered them and the management of the filling station failed to call for help.

The eyewitness said,”It took the swift intervention of the Delta State Fire Service and the Divisional Police Officer,”B” Division in Warri, CSP Anieteh Eyoh ,to put off the fire and saved same from spreading to other parts of the school premises.

It’s yet to be revealed whether officials of the college are involved in the illegal bunkering business taking place behind the college.

The Warri South Council Chairman, Hon. Michael Tidi who visited the scene of the incident said, “It’s a very pathetic situation. It’s an emergency situation.”

According to Hon. Tidi,”I can’t believe such a thing can be done inside town. In fact, this is the height of mischief because this is a filling station here. Behind, they do this thing. This is disheartening.”