There was an explosion at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Warri, Delta State, which forced the 35-year-old company to shut down production 0n Tuesday.

The fire started at about 11.00 am in the refining section of the company, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with an installed capacity of 125,000 bpd, while crude oil refining process was on.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it is responsible for “the sabotage” today at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Refinery in Warri, Delta State.  The facility was ravaged by fire.

According to MEND in a statement, ‘Hurricane Exodus’ was intended to burn down the entire refining refinery.

“As long as President Goodluck Jonathan continues to rely on an unsustainable and fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty programme, peace and security will continue to elude his government in the region,” it said, adding, “‘Hurricane Exodus’ is on course!’”