At least 43 people have reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal fuel siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okrika Mainland, where a vessel was said to be loading petroleum products for export.
Sources in the community said more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities arrived in wooden boats and allegedly attempted to siphon petroleum products from an illegally connected tapping point on a pipeline linked to the facility.
Witnesses said the victims were exposed to highly concentrated fumes while loading the product into waiting boats, causing several people to lose consciousness.
Some of the victims reportedly fell into the river and drowned, while others escaped with severe respiratory complications and were taken for medical treatment.
Sources said 37 of the deceased had been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others remained unidentified. Several people were also reportedly still missing as of the time of filing this report.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident, with its spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, saying investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the actual casualty figure.
Meanwhile, Fyneface Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), said the incident involved a pipeline allegedly connected to infrastructure transporting petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to export vessels.
According to Fyneface, the victims were allegedly loading the product into waiting boats while a vessel received supplies from the pipeline.
“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,” Fyneface said.
He added: “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 and establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.
Fyneface also urged operators of affected oil and gas facilities to strengthen security around critical infrastructure to prevent vandalism, illegal tapping and bunkering activities.
He warned youths against tampering with oil and gas facilities, stressing the dangers associated with petroleum products transported under high pressure.
The environmental advocate further called on the government to create sustainable alternative livelihoods for youths in the Niger Delta through initiatives including modular refineries, formalisation of artisanal refining and industrial development programmes.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the deadly consequences of illegal oil bunkering and crude or petroleum-product theft in the Niger Delta, where hazardous exposure to petroleum products and toxic fumes has repeatedly claimed lives.
