A midnight attempt to siphon crude oil from a pipeline in Rivers State ended in disaster on Thursday, leaving at least 37 suspected oil thieves dead after they reportedly inhaled toxic fumes while illegally loading stolen petroleum products into boats at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area.
Local sources, however, fear the death toll could rise beyond 40 as several persons involved in the operation remain unaccounted for, while others are receiving treatment for severe respiratory complications at undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt.
The tragic incident, which has thrown communities across Okrika into mourning, occurred in the early hours of September 3 when hundreds of youths allegedly converged on the waterfront to tap into a pipeline transporting petroleum products for export.
Witnesses said a vessel was already loading products from the facility when the youths arrived in locally-made wooden boats and began drawing crude oil from an illegal tapping point connected to the pipeline.
According to community sources, the operation quickly turned deadly after the strong fumes released from the product spread through the area, causing many of the youths to lose consciousness.
“People suddenly started collapsing. Some fell directly into the river while others struggled to breathe,” a source familiar with the incident said.
Residents said several victims drowned after falling into the water, while others who managed to escape suffered breathing difficulties and were rushed to hospitals for emergency treatment.
Rights Group Confirms Casualties
The Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, confirmed the incident, saying reports from the organisation’s network of youth volunteers and human rights monitors indicated that no fewer than 37 persons had died.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Fyneface explained that the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a point on a pipeline that transports petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery to export vessels.
According to him, the victims inhaled large volumes of the product while it was being pumped under high pressure during the illegal loading operation.
“Many others are still missing, while some bodies have been seen floating on the river and are yet to be recovered,” he stated.
The advocacy group called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to immediately conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
YEAC also urged operators of oil facilities to strengthen security around pipelines and critical infrastructure to prevent future incidents.
While condemning pipeline vandalism and oil theft, the organisation stressed the need for government intervention through job creation, support for modular refineries and alternative livelihood programmes aimed at reducing youth involvement in illegal oil activities.
Police Launch Investigation
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and disclosed that investigations had commenced.
Police spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko Agabe, said preliminary reports suggested the victims died while attempting to steal crude oil.
She noted that although no formal complaint had been lodged with the command, authorities were already working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” she said.
Eyewitness Recounts Horror
A fisherman who witnessed the incident described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking.
According to him, about 200 youths arrived at the jetty while a company vessel was loading petroleum products.
He said the youths filled containers in their canoes without any form of protective equipment or safety measures.
“Less than 20 minutes later, people started losing consciousness. Some fell into the river immediately. It was a terrifying sight,” he recalled.
The witness said rescuers later arrived from nearby communities and managed to pull some victims from the water, though many were already dead.
He described the tragedy as one of the worst disasters to hit Okrika in recent times and called for tighter security around oil facilities.
“Many families have lost their sons and relatives. What started as a quick way to make money ended in a devastating loss of lives,” he said.
Community Mourns Victims
The incident has sparked grief and reflection across Okrika, with residents linking the tragedy to widespread unemployment and economic hardship among young people.
Student activist Tams George, while expressing condolences to affected families, said the deaths represented more than statistics.
“Every life lost was a dream cut short, a family shattered and a future erased,” he wrote in a social media post.
George urged youths to embrace legitimate means of livelihood by acquiring vocational skills, learning trades, supporting entrepreneurship and pursuing innovative opportunities rather than engaging in dangerous activities.
He also called on governments at all levels to address unemployment and create sustainable economic opportunities for young people.
Expert Demands Crackdown on Oil Theft Networks
Oil and gas policy analyst Charles Uzoma Ozoemena described the deaths as a tragic consequence of Nigeria’s thriving illegal oil economy.
He argued that the persistent involvement of youths in crude oil theft reflects deeper structural issues, including poverty, unemployment and the activities of organised criminal syndicates.
Ozoemena noted that major oil theft operations are often controlled by powerful networks rather than the youths who carry out the risky field operations.
“Poor people do not own ships. There are organised cartels behind these operations, and authorities must focus on identifying and prosecuting those financing the crime,” he said.
The expert advocated stronger surveillance systems across the Niger Delta, enhanced intelligence gathering and tougher penalties for convicted oil thieves and their sponsors.
He further urged government to complement enforcement efforts with economic empowerment programmes that would provide alternative sources of income for young people in oil-producing communities.
According to him, combining security measures with employment opportunities remains the most effective strategy for reducing oil theft and preventing future tragedies.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the deadly dangers associated with illegal crude oil activities in the Niger Delta, where poverty, unemployment and the lure of quick profits continue to drive many youths into high-risk operations with often fatal consequences.
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