It happens when they try to refill the tanks of lanterns or stoves while the flame still glows. And as the kerosene pours into the tanks, it increases the pressure and the flame glows uncontrollably until it explodes. All these happen within a split second and then the harm becomes grave.

The reason is this: Adulterated kerosene has flooded Nigeria’s market. Initially, nobody believed that to be the problem. Everybody was quick to blame the users for being reckless. But the adulterated kerosene has a mixture of fuel. And such mixture is not intended for domestic use, in lanterns and stoves. The mixed substance has the capacity for quick explosion at the exposure to flame under some unguided pressure. And if such refill was done in the death night, the response time for a rescuer would be so slow and far from helping the situation.

This problem is coming on the heel of scarcity of petroleum product, especially kerosene, across the country. And President Goodluck Jonathan, worried by the situation in February ordered the management of NNPC to release more petroleum products and kerosene inclusive, from the reserve to the market. He was speaking as part of an election campaign ‘gingering’. Nearly a month after the directive, the genuine product is still scarce. And everybody thinks everything is normal.

But the adulterated Kerosene product floods the market. It is a common sight along the roads displayed by those who sell in surface tanks. And even those who avoid buying from such roadside sellers just cannot save themselves from being victims. Even the product they bought from some filling stations is adulterated; this should not be.

This is a case of quick business. And it is to the detriment of the health of the people. The prevalence of this adulterated Kerosene is the only alternative to the people. And they helplessly patronise the sellers. And at such times, it is time wasting to know the difference. Pure Kerosene is colour free and with a strange odour close to Fuel smell.

With a growing number of victims, there is another challenge. It is so difficult to get a correct statistic of those affected. There is the lack of a centrally coordinated response to such crises. And no officer has been so assigned. So the figure is not kept. This is a mark of a society that never gives importance to planning and how to encourage health.

And most of the affected were rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and The Braithwaite Memorial Hospital all in Rivers State. And in fact they could not get medical attention. There is an on-going industrial strike by medical doctors and staff in the two hospitals. This had frustrated the condition of Kerosene burnt victims. Even those on admission before the strike had been discharged. There s no specialist medical attention for such burnt victims.

The Chairmen, Medical Advisory Committee, UPTH, Dr. Christie Mato who defended the media personnel strike action said there was nothing to do in the circumstance. And all Kerosene burnt victims on admission had been discharged. Even the emergency unit has been closed to the public. She also blamed the monitoring agency personnel for the increasing Kerosene explosion. They were lazy with inordinate desire and that had led them on the path of greed. She wondered why such greedy persons with criminal overtures are not apprehended by the law. And even the figure of those who were admitted before the strike could not be divulged.

Alice Okonkwo is a victim who was lucky compared to those died as a result of the explosion. She narrated her story explaining that she had woke up about four in the morning and wanted to refill the stove which was already lit. And suddenly the stove exploded and the flame engulfed her. By the time response came she was well burnt.

Mrs. Onyebuchi Sibeudu is the Zonal Operation Controller of the Department Of Petroleum Resources, DPR. She traced the killer Kerosene to some illegal refineries operating in Mbiama in Ahoada Local Government of Rivers State. She also conducted newsmen to the site where such products are refined, produced and distributed. While the youths involved in the illegal business were warned against the act, she told newsmen that DPR has no legal power to prosecute the youths who were asking for an alternative means of livelihood to be provided to them should their business be closed down.

A lawyer, Mr. Onyedikpa Josiah blamed DPR for the incidence. He said they are empowered by law to regulate the distribution and sales of the product. And if they cannot do their constitutional duties then the victims should be bold to seek redress from the Consumers protection Agency and demand DPR to pay for the damage they have suffered for the negligence of duty. And he wondered why DPR is not taking action against the named filling that was accused of selling adulterated kerosene.