43 Feared Dead After Toxic Fumes Engulf Illegal Oil Operation In Rivers

At least 43 people are feared dead after toxic fumes engulfed an illegal petroleum siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident according to The Cable occurred around midnight on Thursday when more than 200 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities reportedly arrived in wooden boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline while a vessel was loading products for export.

According to community sources, the youths were loading the product into their boats when the fumes suddenly became overwhelming, causing several people to collapse.

Some victims reportedly fell into the river and drowned, while survivors who escaped the scene were said to have suffered severe breathing difficulties and were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Community sources put the death toll at 43, with 37 of the deceased reportedly identified as indigenes of Okrika and six others yet to be identified. Several people are also still missing.

However, the Rivers State Police Command said it could not confirm the casualty figure, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the actual number of deaths.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) separately confirmed the incident, saying its network of volunteers and human rights defenders in the Niger Delta had received reports of multiple deaths.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said at least 37 suspected oil thieves died after inhaling what residents locally call “Indorama fuel”.

He said the victims had allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals area through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to vessels loading products for export.

Fyneface said the product was being pumped at high pressure when the youths simultaneously loaded it into waiting boats, exposing them to the toxic fumes.

He said some bodies had reportedly been seen floating on the river, while several others remained unaccounted for.

YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation into the incident and determine what caused the deaths.

Fyneface also urged operators of oil and gas facilities to strengthen security around their infrastructure to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

He warned youths against tampering with oil and gas installations, stressing the dangers posed by petroleum products transported through pipelines under high pressure.

The organisation further called for alternative livelihood opportunities in the Niger Delta, including the development of modular refineries, formalisation of artisanal refining and increased industrial development, to reduce dependence on illegal oil activities.