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No fewer than 37 persons suspected of engaging in illegal oil bunkering have died after allegedly inhaling petroleum fumes while siphoning products from a vandalised pipeline in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where the victims were reportedly loading petroleum products into waiting boats from an illegal tapping point.
Sources in the community said more than 100 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities had converged on the jetty to collect the product when a strong smell spread through the area, causing many of them to collapse.
Several of the victims reportedly fell into the river, while others who survived suffered severe respiratory complications and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Community sources also said many people remain unaccounted for.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that over 37 bodies believed to be those of Okrika indigenes had been recovered, while six others had yet to be identified. He added that more bodies were still feared missing.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) also confirmed the incident, saying reports from its network of youth volunteers and human rights monitors indicated that at least 37 suspected oil thieves lost their lives.
Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, said the victims allegedly inhaled what locals described as "Indorama fuel" while petroleum products were being pumped through a high-pressure pipeline.
According to him, the victims had connected a pipe to an illegal tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to export vessels.
He explained that as a vessel loaded the product, the suspects simultaneously diverted it into their boats, exposing themselves to high-pressure petroleum fumes that proved fatal.
Dumnamene said several bodies were still missing, with some corpses reportedly seen floating on the river but yet to be recovered.
He called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to immediately carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to determine the cause of the incident.
The advocacy group also urged the operators of the affected facility to strengthen security around oil infrastructure to prevent further acts of vandalism.
While condemning pipeline sabotage, YEAC warned youths against tampering with oil and gas installations because of the severe dangers involved. It also urged governments to create alternative means of livelihood, including supporting modular refineries and legalising artisanal refining.
Reacting to the incident, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed that those who died were suspected to have been attempting to steal crude oil.
Police spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said although no formal complaint had been received, the command had commenced an investigation into the incident.
She said investigators were working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the full facts of the case.
