At least 37 people suspected to be involved in illegal oil bunkering have died in Okrika, Rivers State, after inhaling fumes from a petroleum product believed to be crude oil.
The incident occurred at about midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where more than 100 people from Okrika and neighbouring communities had reportedly gathered in locally made boats to load petroleum products from an illegally tapped point.
A vessel was also anchored at the site and was reportedly loading the same product for export.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a strong smell suddenly filled the area while the illegal loading operation was underway, overwhelming and choking several people, most of them youths.
“Many of them collapsed into the river, while others who managed to escape the scene had serious respiratory disorders and were being treated at the hospital,” the source said.
The source claimed that more than 37 bodies had been identified as Okrika indigenes, while six others remained unidentified and several people were still missing.
The incident was also confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria). Its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said the organisation’s network of volunteers and human rights defenders in the Niger Delta reported at least 37 confirmed deaths after victims inhaled what is locally known as “Indorama Fuel.”
Dumnamene alleged that the victims had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline used to transport petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that reportedly arrive periodically to load products for export.
He said the victims inhaled the product as it was pumped at high pressure while they simultaneously loaded it into their boats, resulting in the deaths.
Dumnamene added that some bodies had been seen floating on the river but had yet to be recovered.
He called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct an immediate Joint Investigation Visit to the site and urged the company whose pipeline was allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around its facilities to prevent a recurrence.
While condemning the alleged sabotage, Dumnamene warned youths against approaching oil and gas infrastructure because of the dangers involved. He also called for alternative livelihood opportunities for residents in the region.
He suggested initiatives such as modular refineries, the legalisation of artisanal refining, a Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative and a Niger Delta Industrial Park.
‘Many of them were choked to death’
The Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Okrika Local Government Area, Igwe Godswill, described the incident as heartbreaking.
Godswill said the victims had gone to scoop petroleum products floating on the water when they were overcome by fumes from a vessel loading at the jetty.
“It is so pathetic that this incident is happening in our community. These are young guys who have gone to search for their daily bread, only for the fumes from the fuel that was pumped to kill so many of our youths under the bridge,” he said.
“Many of them were choked to death. These are not criminals or anything, but they went out in search of their daily meal.”
Godswill said about 10 bodies had been recovered as of the time he spoke, although several could not be identified because of the condition of the remains.
“We saw about 10 of them. Four were still unrecognisable, while four persons were identified. The rest could not be identified because their bodies were badly damaged and their faces were severely affected,” he said.
He appealed to the Rivers State Government, community leaders and other relevant authorities to create employment opportunities for youths in the area.
Godswill warned that residents could continue to risk their lives at illegal tapping points without alternative sources of livelihood.
“It is not enough to stop them because, yes, it is a risky job, but they should create jobs for the youths so that everybody will have something to eat,” he said.
He added that some residents had continued to visit the area despite reports of deaths linked to the activity.
Police confirm deaths
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed that people died in the incident while allegedly attempting to steal crude oil.
Agabe, however, said no official complaint had been lodged with the command at the time of her response.
She said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
