Deadly Blast at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery Claims Dozens of Lives

At least 18 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in southern Nigeria when an illegal oil refinery exploded, leaving victims severely burned. The blaze occurred when a homemade refinery ignited a nearby oil reservoir. Illegal refining is common in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, where impoverished locals tap pipelines to make fuel for profit. Nigeria has struggled to clamp down on illegal refineries due to the involvement of powerful politicians and security officials.