There was a tragic incident around midnight on Thursday at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland, where a vessel was loading petroleum products for export.
During the activity, it was reported that no fewer than 43 people died after inhaling toxic fumes during an “illegal fuel siphoning operation” in Okrika LGA of Rivers State.
According to TheCable quoting sources in the community, more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities arrived in wooden boats and attempted to siphon fuel from an illegally connected tapping point on a pipeline linked to the facility.
Some of the youths reportedly fell into the river and drowned.
A yet to be specified number of persons escaped with severe respiratory complications and are receiving treatment.
Witnesses said the victims were exposed to concentrated chemical fumes while loading the product into their boats, causing many to lose consciousness.
Sources said 37 of the deceased have been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others remain unidentified. Several people are still unaccounted for.
Blessing Agabe, spokesperson for the Rivers state police command, confirmed the incident.
Agabe said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the actual number of casualties.
Speaking also on the incident, Fyneface Fyneface, who is the executive director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), said the victims had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to export vessels.
He said the victims were loading the product into waiting boats while a vessel was receiving supplies from the pipeline.
This is even as he also urged operators of the affected facilities to strengthen security around oil and gas infrastructure to prevent vandalism and illegal bunkering.
“According to the report, no fewer than 37 persons suspected to be oil thieves died after inhaling what is locally called ‘Indorama Fuel’. Many others are still missing,” he noted.
The incident occurred during the illegal loading of the product into a ship at a tapping point.
“The incident is said to have occurred at about 12:00am on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Okari Jetty, Okrika Mainland area.”
YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation into the incident.
