Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least 37 people suspected to be involved in illegal oil bunkering have died after inhaling toxic petroleum fumes during a midnight operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, 2026, has left several others missing and sparked urgent calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to community sources and the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), more than 100 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities had gathered at the jetty with locally made boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegal tapping point. The youths allegedly connected a pipe to a pipeline linked to the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility, which runs through the Port Harcourt Refinery to export vessels. As they loaded the product into their boats while a vessel was also loading, the fumes overwhelmed many of them.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the atmosphere suddenly became saturated with strong fumes from the product, causing several of the youths to collapse. Some of the victims fell into the river, while those who escaped suffered severe respiratory problems and were rushed to hospitals. "As I speak to you, over 37 bodies were identified as Okrika people while six others were yet to be identified and many are still missing," the source said. Some corpses were reportedly still floating on the river but had not yet been recovered.
The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, confirmed the incident, stating that no fewer than 37 people had died after inhaling what is locally called "Indorama fuel". He explained that the victims inhaled the product being pumped at high pressure while simultaneously loading it into their boats. "This led to the death of not fewer than 37 persons. Many are still missing, and some corpses have been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered," he said.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesperson ASP Blessing Agabe stating that the victims allegedly died while attempting to steal crude oil. "The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. However, no official complaint has been received in connection with the incident at this time. Investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain the facts," Agabe said.
YEAC-Nigeria condemned the act of sabotage and urged youths to stay away from oil and gas infrastructure due to the dangers of high pressure. Dumnamene called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site and urged the company involved to strengthen pipeline security. He also called on the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities, including modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining, to address the economic conditions driving young people into illegal oil activities. The tragic incident has highlighted the persistent dangers of illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and the urgent need for sustainable economic alternatives for the region's youth.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments