How An Oil Theft Operation Claimed 37 Lives In Rivers
At least 37 suspected oil thieves have died after inhaling toxic fumes during an illegal crude oil loading operation at Okari Jetty, Rivers State.
The incident occurred early Thursday in Okrika Local Government Area, when more than 200 youths allegedly arrived in wooden boats to siphon crude oil.
Although community sources put the casualties at 43, 37 deaths had been confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Several others were reportedly missing, while survivors were receiving treatment for respiratory complications at an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
A community source said a vessel had anchored at the jetty to load petroleum products for export when the youths arrived.
He said the youths began collecting crude oil into their boats from an illegally tapped pipeline as the vessel loaded its product.
According to him, toxic fumes quickly saturated the area as crude was pumped through the pipeline under high pressure.
He said some youths began losing consciousness about 20 minutes after the illegal operation started and several fell into the river.
“Some collapsed into the river, while others who escaped were taken away for medical treatment,” the source said.
Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, confirmed the deaths in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.
Fyneface said his organisation received reports from youth volunteers and human rights defenders that at least 37 people had died.
He said the victims inhaled what locals call “Indorama Fuel” while allegedly loading crude from an illegal tapping point.
According to him, the pipeline transports crude from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels loading for export.
Fyneface said the incident occurred around midnight Thursday at Okari Jetty, Okrika Mainland.
He added that some corpses had reportedly been seen floating on the river but had not been recovered.
Several people were also still missing, according to the environmental advocacy group.
Fyneface called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site.
He also urged companies whose facilities were vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines and prevent further illegal tapping.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, said the victims allegedly died while attempting to steal crude oil.
She said no official complaint had been received but investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“Investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain the facts,” she said.
A resident and fisherman who witnessed the incident described the deaths as a major tragedy for the Okrika community.
He said many families had lost loved ones and urged companies operating in the area to improve security around their facilities.
Student activist Tams George also expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and linked the incident to unemployment, poverty and economic hardship.
George urged youths to pursue safer livelihoods through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, innovation and legitimate businesses.
Oil and gas policy expert Charles Uzoma Ozoemena called for stronger surveillance, improved intelligence gathering and tougher prosecution of oil theft financiers.
Ozoemena said the scale of illegal crude operations suggested that organised networks were benefiting from the trade.
He urged authorities to identify and prosecute financiers and organisers instead of focusing mainly on youths operating at illegal tapping points.
He also called for wider surveillance across the Niger Delta, saying the region’s geographical spread required additional security networks.
Ozoemena advocated stronger community intelligence systems and incentives for residents who provide information to security agencies.
He said poverty and unemployment remained major factors pushing young people towards illegal oil activities across the Niger Delta.
He urged the government to create more jobs and economic opportunities in oil-producing communities to reduce youth involvement in crude theft.
