What began as another illegal night operation at a riverside jetty in Rivers State ended in mass death.
At least 43 suspected oil thieves were choked to death early Thursday after inhaling poisonous fumes, while several others remain missing and dozens more are in hospital fighting for breath.
The Deadly Rush at Okari Jetty
The tragedy unfolded around 12:00am on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Okrika Local Government Area. Witnesses said a vessel had berthed to load petroleum product for export.
In a frenzy, more than 200 youths from neighboring communities stormed the jetty in small boats. They had allegedly connected pipes to an illegal tapping point on a pipeline that moves product from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery.
As the loading went on, the air turned thick with a pungent, suffocating smell. Within minutes, people began collapsing. Some fell straight into the river. Others staggered away clutching their chests.
“Indorama Fuel” Chokes a Community
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, confirmed the victims inhaled what it described as “Indorama fuel.”
According to YEAC Executive Director Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, 37 of the dead have been identified as Okrika indigenes. Six bodies are yet to be identified. Many more are still unaccounted for.
Survivors who escaped are reportedly receiving treatment for severe respiratory distress in local hospitals.
YEAC condemned the sabotage and warned youths to stay away from oil and gas infrastructure. “The high pressure and associated dangers make this a death trap,” Fyneface said, urging pipeline owners to beef up security to prevent a repeat.
Police Launch Investigation
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact casualty figure and circumstances behind the deaths.
She added that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, has been called in to probe the illegal tapping and environmental impact.
For Okrika, the night of profit-seeking ended in grief, with families now mourning sons lost to a pipeline they risked their lives to vandalize.
