At least 43 people have died after inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal fuel-siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Mainland, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday while a vessel was loading petroleum products for export. More than 200 youths from neighbouring communities were said to have arrived in wooden boats and attempted to siphon petroleum products from an illegally connected tapping point on a pipeline.
According to community sources cited by TheCable, the victims were exposed to concentrated chemical fumes while loading the product into their boats. Many reportedly lost consciousness, while some fell into the river and drowned.
Fyneface Dumnamene, an environmental activist, said 37 of the victims had been identified as suspected oil thieves, while several others remained missing. Six of the deceased were yet to be identified, according to reports.
Some survivors reportedly escaped with severe respiratory complications and are receiving treatment.
The product involved was described locally as “Indorama Fuel” and was reportedly being siphoned from a pipeline connected to the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals facility through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to export vessels.
Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident, with its spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, saying investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the exact number of casualties.
The incident has renewed concerns over illegal oil bunkering and the dangers associated with unauthorised tapping of petroleum pipelines in the Niger Delta.
