By our reporter 3.9.2026
Toxic gas leaks from an illegal loading point at a jetty in Okirika River State, has snuff life out of 37 people who were trying to siphon crude oil.
According to reports by the Punch over 100 youths from Okirika and surrounding coastal communities stormed the loading jetty Thursday at about 12.30am on boats, and while attempting to tap the crude a strong smell pervaded the area, leaving the youths collapsing and gasping for breath.
Some of the youths were said to have fallen into the water while struggling to breathe in clean air, while some others were fortunate enough to escape with respiratory discomfort.
“As I speak to you, over 37 bodies were identified as Okirika people while six others were yet to be identified and many are still missing,” said one of the locals.
Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre executive director Dr Fyneface Dumnamene said the victims had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline that transported petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that regularly came to load products for export.
“While a vessel was loading the product and the men were simultaneously loading into their waiting boats from the illegal tapping point, they inhaled the product being pumped at high pressure.
“This led to the death of not fewer than 37 persons. Many are still missing, and some corpses have been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered,” he said.
“The Advocacy Centre condemns this act of sabotage by the youths and warns them to stay away from oil and gas infrastructure due to the high pressure and associated dangers.
Rivers State Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe, said investigations are currently ongoing over the incident.
“The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. However, no official complaint has been received in connection with the incident at this time.
“Investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain the facts,” Agabe stated.