Youths in Egbema in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have begun a sensitisation programme following Friday night’s explosion at an illegal refinery in a forest at Abaezi community which claimed no fewer than 100 lives.
A youth leader in the area, James Ogbanje, who spoke to our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Monday, said the essence was to disabuse the minds of the youths from engaging in oil bunkering.
According to the youth leader, the sensitization program was going on in all the communities in Egbema.
He said that the security agents and community leaders were away of the youth body’s genuine intentions to ensure sanity in the area.
Ogbanje said “We have started a sensitisation program in all the communities in Egbema. The essence is to highlight the dangers of indulging in illicit businesses like oil theft. We know that there are no jobs in Nigeria. People will go to school without getting jobs after graduation but that is not an excuse to take to crime.
“The explosion would have been avoided if the youths had taken to legitimate businesses. It was a tragedy. We are mourning. In order to stop a future reoccurrence. We have started a campaign of reconscientisation to lure youths from oil bunkering business and other similar businesses. There are other endeavors one can undertake and be successful.”
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