No fewer than 43 persons are feared dead, with several others still missing, following a toxic fume incident during an alleged illegal petroleum siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Report has it that the incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday when over 200 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities converged on the jetty in wooden boats to collect petroleum products allegedly from an illegally tapped pipeline.
Community sources said the operation turned tragic after the concentration of fumes suddenly increased, leaving several of the youths unconscious. Some victims were said to have fallen into the river, while others who survived were taken to nearby hospitals after developing breathing difficulties.
According to the sources, 43 persons were believed to have died, including 37 identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others had yet to be identified. Several participants in the operation were also reportedly unaccounted for as search efforts continued.
However, the Rivers State Police Command said it had not established the number of casualties from the incident, stressing that investigations were still underway to determine what actually happened and the extent of the loss.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) separately confirmed receiving reports of multiple deaths, with its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, putting the number of suspected fatalities at no fewer than 37.
Fyneface said the victims were allegedly exposed to toxic fumes while attempting to siphon petroleum products from a high-pressure pipeline reportedly linked to the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals area and running through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor towards vessels loading products for export. He added that some bodies were reportedly seen floating on the river, while others remained missing.
YEAC-Nigeria called for a joint investigation by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and relevant authorities, while urging stronger protection of oil infrastructure and warning against pipeline tampering. The group also advocated sustainable economic alternatives, including industrial development, modular refineries and formalisation of artisanal refining, to reduce youth dependence on illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta.
