8th July, 2010
Residents of villages between Ubima and Omagwa have raised alarm about an imminent disaster that may happen if urgent steps are not taken by security agents and the Rivers State Government to cordon off the two petrol tankers that had accident along the Omagwa-Ubima road.
Concerned callers to a Port Harcourt-based radio station Silverbird Rhythm 93.7 in the early hours of today expressed grave concern about the imminent tragedy if nothing is done to checkmate the scooping of the leaking petrol.
When P.M.NEWS put a call across to Dr. Dawari George, the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources his call was not going through.
A source at the Ministry said the Commissioner travelled out of the state for an official assignment. However, Mr. Blessing Wikina, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chibuike Amaechi told our correspondent on phone that efforts were made to mobilize relevant authorities and security agents to cordon off the area to avoid any carnage.
He said the “police have mobilised the Police Area Command, Isiokpo, to take appropriate security measures around the accident scene.â€
Meanwhile, there is a serious traffic jam along the Omagwa-Ubima-Owerri road, the main exit for those travelling to Imo and Anambra states from Port Harcourt.
Efforts made to get across to Dr. Rita Innoma-Abbey, a Superintendent of Police, and the Rivers State Command Public Relations Officer were not successful.
—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt