No fewer than 43 people have died after inhaling toxic fumes during an “illegal fuel siphoning operation” in Okrika LGA of Rivers state.
The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday at Okari
Jetty in Okrika Mainland, where a vessel was loading petroleum products for
export.
Sources in the community said 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.
Witnesses said the victims were exposed to concentrated
chemical fumes while loading the product into their boats, causing many to lose
consciousness.
Some reportedly fell into the river and drowned, while
others escaped with severe respiratory complications and are receiving
treatment.
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.
In a statement, Fyneface Fyneface, 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.
“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.
“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.
Fyneface also urged operators of the affected facilities to
strengthen security around oil and gas infrastructure to prevent vandalism and
illegal bunkering.
He warned youths against tampering with oil and gas
facilities, citing the dangers associated with petroleum products transported
under high pressure.
Fyneface urged the government to create alternative
livelihood opportunities in the Niger Delta through initiatives such as modular
refineries, the formalisation of artisanal refining and industrial development
programmes.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com