37 suspected oil thieves reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes while allegedly siphoning petroleum products from a pipeline at Okrika Jetty, Rivers State.
At least 37 people have reportedly lost their lives following a deadly incident involving suspected illegal oil bunkering activities at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, 2026, after a large gathering of youths from Okrika and nearby communities reportedly converged on the waterfront in an attempt to siphon petroleum products from a pipeline.
The operation, according to accounts from people familiar with the incident, took a tragic turn when a strong and unusual smell suddenly spread across the area.
Several of those at the location were said to have experienced difficulty breathing before collapsing. In the ensuing confusion, some reportedly fell into the river, while others managed to escape from the affected area.
More than 100 people were reportedly at the jetty when the incident occurred. The group was said to have arrived with boats and other equipment allegedly intended to facilitate the removal and transportation of petroleum products.
The pipeline involved is reportedly connected to petroleum infrastructure serving the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility and the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The line is also said to be associated with the movement of petroleum products to vessels that visit the area for loading and export operations.
Witnesses said the youths were already engaged in transferring the product into their boats when the situation suddenly became dangerous.
The source of the fumes and the precise substance inhaled by the victims have not been officially established.
Initial accounts described the material as crude oil or a petroleum product, but authorities are expected to determine the exact substance involved as investigations continue.
The incident reportedly caused widespread panic among those present at the jetty. As the fumes spread, people attempted to move away from the affected location, with some abandoning their boats and other equipment.
Some of the people who survived the incident were reportedly taken to hospitals for treatment. They are said to be suffering from serious respiratory problems believed to have resulted from inhaling the substance or fumes released during the operation.
The number of people who may have been affected could not be independently established at the time of filing this report, while concerns remained over those who may have fallen into the river during the incident.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that an investigation is underway to establish what happened.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Blessing Agabe, said preliminary information available to the police indicated that the victims were allegedly involved in an attempt to steal crude oil.
Agabe, however, stressed that the police had not received an official complaint concerning the incident when he spoke to journalists.
He said the command would investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the facts.
“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 said.
The police investigation is expected to establish several details surrounding the incident, including the actual number of people who died, the identities of the victims, the substance involved and the immediate cause of the reported deaths.
Investigators may also have to determine whether everyone who was at the jetty escaped, particularly because some witnesses claimed that victims fell into the river after collapsing.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, where petroleum infrastructure has frequently become a target for unauthorised activities.
Attempting to breach or tap active pipelines can expose individuals to highly hazardous petroleum products and vapours. Apart from the possibility of poisoning or respiratory complications, such activities can also result in fires, explosions and other life-threatening emergencies.
In many cases, people involved in illegal petroleum activities operate without protective equipment or knowledge of the composition and pressure of the substances inside pipelines. Any sudden release of petroleum products can therefore create a dangerous environment within a short period.
The Okrika incident also raises questions about the safety of communities located close to petroleum infrastructure and waterways used for the movement of petroleum products.
With more than 100 people reportedly gathered at the location, the scale of the alleged operation suggests that a significant number of people may have been exposed to the substance released.
However, authorities have yet to provide a final official casualty figure or confirm all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Residents and community members are expected to provide information that could assist investigators in identifying those involved and determining the whereabouts of anyone who may still be missing.
Emergency medical personnel are also expected to continue attending to survivors who were taken to hospitals following the incident.
As the investigation continues, authorities are likely to examine the pipeline and surrounding area to determine how the petroleum product was accessed and what triggered the release of the potentially dangerous fumes.
The deaths, if confirmed at the reported figure, would represent another serious consequence of unauthorised activities around petroleum facilities in the oil-producing region.
For now, the police have urged that the circumstances surrounding the incident be established through investigation rather than relying solely on preliminary accounts from witnesses.
Further information is expected from the Rivers State Police Command and other relevant authorities as efforts continue to establish the full details of the tragedy at Okari Jetty.
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