Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
AT least 40 suspected crude oil thieves have died after inhaling toxic petroleum fumes during an illegal loading operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The devastating incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, 2026, when more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities gathered at the jetty with locally made boats to siphon product from an illegal tapping point.
According to community sources, the youths had connected a pipe to a pipeline linked to the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility, which runs through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels loading for export.
The situation turned fatal when the pungent odour from the petroleum product saturated the air during simultaneous loading operations. Many of the suspects collapsed into the river, while others who escaped were rushed to hospital with severe respiratory complications.
Conflicting Casualty Figures
While community sources have put the death toll at 43, with 37 bodies identified as indigenes of Okrika and six others yet to be identified, the Rivers State Police Command has urged caution regarding the exact figures.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident but stated that no official complaint had been received at this time. “The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. Investigation is ongoing to establish the exact number of suspects dead,” she said.
Environmental Group Speaks Out
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the tragedy through its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, who said the victims had inhaled what is locally called “Indorama Fuel”.
Fyneface explained that the product was being pumped at high pressure when the victims were exposed to dangerous fumes. “Many are still missing, and some corpses have been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered,” he stated.
Calls for Action
YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site and urged companies whose facilities were vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines.
The organisation also appealed to the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities, including modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining through its proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI).
Fyneface warned youths to stay away from oil and gas infrastructure due to the associated dangers, while the police confirmed that investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
