No fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves died on Thursday after inhaling a petroleum product believed to be crude oil in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred early Thursday when the suspects allegedly attempted to load the product into a vessel from an illegally tapped point at a jetty in the area.
Also, the whereabouts of several other persons are said to have become unknown following the incident, which occurred in the mainly coastal community.
More than 100 persons from Okrika and neighbouring communities were said to have stormed the jetty in locally made boats to load petroleum product from the illegal tapping point.
A resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity, said a strong smell suddenly pervaded the area while the youths were loading the product, making several of them to collapse.
The source further disclosed that in their attempts to escape the acidic odour, some of the victims fell into the river while others who escaped suffered serious respiratory problems and were rushed to hospital.
“Already, we have identified over 37 bodies as Okirika people, but six others have yet to be identified. Many are still missing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre has confirmed the incident, saying its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in the Niger Delta received reports of the deaths.
YEAC-Nigeria Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said in a statement that no fewer than 37 persons suspected to be oil thieves died after inhaling what was locally called “Indorama fuel”.
He said the incident occurred at about midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area.
Dumnamene stated that the victims had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline that transported petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that regularly came to load products for export.
“The report further stated that while a vessel was loading the product and the men were simultaneously loading into their waiting boats from the illegal tapping point, they inhaled the product being pumped at high pressure.
“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.
Dumnamene called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to immediately conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site.
He also advised the company whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around its pipelines to prevent a recurrence.
The statement added, “The Advocacy Centre condemns this act of sabotage by the youths and warns them to stay away from oil and gas infrastructure due to the high pressure and associated dangers.
“While calling for investigation into the incident, the Advocacy Centre also calls on the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities, including the canvassed modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.”
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident, saying the victims were allegedly attempting to steal crude oil.
The PPRO said that while no official complaint had been lodged with the command, it had already launched a probe.
Agabe said, “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.”
