At least 37 persons suspected to be involved in illegal oil bunkering have reportedly died in Okrika, Rivers State, after inhaling fumes from a petroleum product believed to be crude oil.
The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in Okrika Mainland, where more than 100 people from Okrika and neighbouring communities reportedly gathered in boats to load petroleum products from an illegally tapped point.
A vessel was also anchored at the location to load the product for export.
A community source said a strong smell suddenly filled the area, causing several people to collapse into the river, while others escaped with severe respiratory complications.
The deaths were confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria. Its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said at least 37 deaths had been confirmed, while several others remained missing.
Dumnamene said the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline carrying products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels for export.
He said some bodies had been seen floating on the river but were yet to be recovered.
Dumnamene urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to immediately conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site and called on the operator of the vandalised facility to strengthen security around its pipelines.
He also appealed to the government to provide alternative livelihoods for youths in the Niger Delta, including support for modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.
Meanwhile, the Civilian Joint Task Force Commander in Okrika LGA, Igwe Godswill, described the incident as heartbreaking, saying many of the victims were young men searching for means of livelihood.
“Many of them were choked to death. These are not criminals or anything, but they went out in search of their daily meal,” he said, while calling for urgent job creation for youths in the community.
Godswill said about 10 bodies had been recovered at the time of his briefing, although only a few had been identified because some of the remains were badly damaged.
The Rivers State Police Command also confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the victims died while allegedly attempting to steal crude oil, adding that no official complaint had been lodged as of the time of the statement.
She said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.