At least 37 persons have reportedly died after inhaling a toxic petroleum product while allegedly loading illegally tapped “Indorama fuel” at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Rivers State.
Several others were said to be missing following the incident, which reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
It was gathered that more than 200 persons, mostly youths from neighbouring communities, had stormed the jetty in locally made boats to load the product from an illegally tapped point.
A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the pungent odour from the petroleum product filled the atmosphere during the illegal loading operation, causing several people to collapse.
According to the source, some of the victims fell into the river, while others who escaped the scene developed severe respiratory complications and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
The source said 37 bodies had so far been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others were yet to be identified. He added that several persons remained missing.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident, saying its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in Okrika Local Government Area had reported the deaths.
The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said no fewer than 37 persons suspected to be involved in oil theft died after inhaling what is locally referred to as “Indorama fuel.”
He said the incident occurred at Okari Jetty while a vessel was loading the product and suspected oil thieves were simultaneously filling their boats from an illegal tapping point.
According to him, the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline conveying products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that reportedly arrive periodically to load the product for export.
Fyneface said the product was being pumped at high pressure when those involved in the illegal loading operation inhaled the fumes, resulting in the deaths.
He added that some corpses had reportedly been sighted floating on the river but had yet to be recovered, while several others remained missing.
Fyneface called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the scene to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He also urged the companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent further incidents.
The YEAC-Nigeria director condemned the alleged sabotage, warning youths involved in oil theft to stay away from petroleum infrastructure because of the dangers associated with high-pressure pipelines and toxic hydrocarbon products.
He, however, called for government intervention through alternative livelihood programmes, including the promotion of modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.
Fyneface advocated the establishment of the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and the Niger Delta Industrial Park as measures to create alternative economic opportunities for displaced artisanal refiners in the region.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, confirmed the incident.
She, however, said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual number of casualties and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.