At least 37 persons suspected of engaging in illegal oil bunkering have died after inhaling fumes from a petroleum product at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, when more than 100 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities reportedly gathered at the jetty to siphon petroleum products from an illegal tapping point.
According to community sources, the situation turned tragic when a strong and pungent smell suddenly filled the area, causing several of the youths to collapse.
Some reportedly fell into the river while trying to escape, while others who survived were rushed to hospitals with severe respiratory complications.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, confirmed the deaths, saying at least 37 persons had died after inhaling what residents locally refer to as “Indorama fuel.”
The organisation said the victims had allegedly connected a pipe to an illegal tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels operating in the area.
YEAC Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene, said the incident occurred while a vessel was loading petroleum products and the suspected oil thieves were simultaneously transferring the product into their waiting boats.
He called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to conduct an immediate Joint Investigation Visit to the site and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Dumnamene also urged the company whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around its pipelines to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command says it has commenced an investigation into the incident.
The police said no official complaint had been lodged with the command as of the time of the report, but officers had begun efforts to establish exactly what happened.
Several people are also reportedly missing, while some bodies are said to have been recovered from the river.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the deadly risks associated with illegal oil bunkering and the dangers posed by unauthorised access to petroleum pipelines.
