At least 37 people suspected of involvement in illegal oil theft have reportedly died after inhaling dangerous petroleum fumes during an illegal loading operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, throwing the riverside community into confusion and raising fresh concerns about the dangers associated with illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
Several other people are reportedly missing, while some survivors were said to have developed severe breathing difficulties and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear, however, as the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident but said an investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the actual number of victims.
How The Incident Happened
According to reports from community sources and the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, more than 100 people from Okrika and neighbouring communities had reportedly converged on the Okari Jetty in locally made boats.
The group was allegedly attempting to collect petroleum products through an illegally tapped point on a pipeline connected to infrastructure in the area.
A vessel was reportedly anchored at the location and loading petroleum products for export when the illegal operation was taking place simultaneously.
During the loading process, a strong and pungent smell reportedly spread through the area. Several of those at the scene were said to have suddenly become overwhelmed by the fumes, with some collapsing and falling into the river.
Others who managed to escape reportedly suffered serious respiratory complications and were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
A community source said many of the victims were youths who had travelled to the jetty in search of petroleum products.
The source also claimed that more than 37 bodies had been identified as residents of Okrika, while six others had yet to be identified. Several people were still believed to be missing at the time of the reports.
YEAC Confirms 37 Deaths
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, a Niger Delta-based environmental and human rights organisation, confirmed the deaths.
Its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, said the organisation received reports through its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders operating across the Niger Delta.
Dumnamene said no fewer than 37 people suspected of engaging in oil theft died after inhaling what residents locally refer to as “Indorama fuel.”
According to him, the victims allegedly connected a pipe to an illegal tapping point on a pipeline that carries petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery corridor to vessels that arrive in the area to load products for export.
He explained that the victims were reportedly loading the petroleum product into waiting boats at the same time that a vessel was receiving the product.
The product was allegedly being pumped through the system at high pressure, exposing those involved in the illegal operation to potentially hazardous fumes.
YEAC said some bodies had reportedly been seen floating on the river but had not yet been recovered.
Police Confirm Incident
The Rivers State Police Command has also confirmed the incident.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the people involved reportedly died while attempting to steal crude oil.
However, she cautioned that the actual circumstances and casualty figure had not yet been established.
Agabe said no official complaint had been received by the Command concerning the incident at the time of her response, adding that an investigation had commenced.
The police position means the reported figure of 37 deaths should still be treated as preliminary pending the conclusion of investigations and an official determination of the number of victims.
Community Leader Speaks
The Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika Local Government Area, Igwe Godswill, described the incident as heartbreaking.
Godswill said many of those involved were young men trying to make a living in an area where legitimate employment opportunities are limited.
He explained that the victims had reportedly gone to scoop petroleum products floating on the water when fumes from the loading operation overwhelmed them.
According to him, some of the victims were reportedly choked by the fumes and died at the scene.
Godswill said about 10 bodies had been recovered at the time of his briefing, although several were difficult to identify because of their condition.
He appealed to the Rivers State Government, community leaders and other relevant authorities to create legitimate employment opportunities for young people in Okrika.
He warned that simply stopping residents from engaging in dangerous oil-related activities without providing alternative sources of income could leave many vulnerable to similar risks in the future.
YEAC Calls For Investigation
Following the tragedy, YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to immediately conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the scene.
The organisation said an investigation was necessary to determine precisely what caused the deaths and establish the extent of the incident.
It also urged the operator of the affected infrastructure to strengthen security around its pipelines to prevent illegal connections and reduce the risk of another tragedy.
Dumnamene condemned pipeline vandalism and illegal oil activities but also appealed to the Government to address the economic conditions that continue to push some residents into the hazardous trade.
He called for alternative livelihood opportunities for communities in the Niger Delta, including initiatives that could support legitimate participation in the oil and gas sector.
Among the measures he proposed were modular refineries, the legalisation and regulation of artisanal refining, a Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative and the establishment of a Niger Delta Industrial Park.
Death Toll Still Uncertain
Although YEAC has reported at least 37 deaths, some community reports have put the number as high as 43, with the additional six victims reportedly comprising unidentified bodies.
That higher figure has not been officially confirmed by the police.
Reports from the scene also indicate that several people remain missing, meaning the casualty figure could change as search and recovery operations continue and authorities establish the identities of those affected.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers of illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, where people involved in unauthorised petroleum activities face risks from toxic fumes, high-pressure pipelines, explosions, fires and drowning.
For now, authorities are expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the Okrika tragedy and determine the final number of people who lost their lives.
As investigations continue, community leaders and environmental advocates are urging residents to stay away from illegally tapped oil facilities and calling on Government authorities to provide safer and sustainable economic opportunities for youths in the region.