At least 37 people have reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal petroleum siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, when more than 200 people, mostly youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities, allegedly arrived at the jetty in locally made boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline.

According to community sources, the victims were attempting to load the petroleum product into their boats while a vessel was also loading products for export. The situation reportedly turned deadly when fumes from the product became overwhelming, causing several people at the scene to collapse.

Some of those affected reportedly fell into the river, while others who survived the incident developed severe breathing difficulties and were taken to hospitals for medical attention. Several people are also said to remain missing.

Community sources put the death toll at 43, saying 37 of the bodies had been identified as indigenes of Okrika while six others were yet to be identified. However, the Rivers State Police Command has not confirmed the figure, saying investigations are still ongoing to determine the actual number of casualties.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), an environmental and human-rights advocacy organisation, separately reported that at least 37 people suspected of involvement in oil theft had died after inhaling what residents reportedly refer to as “Indorama fuel.”

The organisation’s Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said the victims 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.

He explained that the product was being pumped at high pressure when those allegedly involved in the illegal operation began loading it into waiting boats, exposing them to the fumes.

Fyneface said some bodies had reportedly been seen floating on the river but had yet to be recovered, while others remained missing.

The advocacy group called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the site to establish what happened and determine the environmental and safety implications of the incident.

It also urged companies whose infrastructure was allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent similar incidents.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and unauthorised access to petroleum infrastructure in the Niger Delta. Apart from the loss of lives, such activities have continued to raise concerns over environmental pollution, pipeline damage and the safety of communities in oil-producing areas.

Fyneface condemned the alleged pipeline vandalism and illegal siphoning while warning residents, particularly youths, against approaching oil and gas facilities because of the dangers posed by high-pressure petroleum products.

He further called for alternative livelihood opportunities for vulnerable residents involved in artisanal refining and other activities linked to the region’s informal oil economy.

As search efforts continue for those still missing, the police investigation is expected to establish the exact number of people who died and the circumstances surrounding the incident.