37 DIE AFTER INHALING TOXIC FUMES AT RIVERS JETTY

About 37 persons have reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes from a petroleum product at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred on Thursday night when youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities reportedly gathered at the jetty to load petroleum products from an illegal tapping point.

A community source said more than 100 people had arrived at the jetty in locally made boats while a vessel was anchored along the riverside to load petroleum products.

The source said a strong smell suddenly filled the area during the loading operation, causing several people to collapse. Some reportedly fell into the river, while others escaped with serious respiratory complications.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre also confirmed the incident, saying its volunteers reported that at least 37 people suspected of involvement in illegal oil activities died after inhaling what is locally known as “Indorama fuel.”

YEAC-Nigeria Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels.

He called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to immediately investigate the incident and urged operators of the affected facilities to strengthen security around their pipelines.

The Rivers State Police Command also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were reportedly attempting to steal crude oil. Police spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, said no official complaint had been received but an investigation had commenced to establish what happened.

However, the Commander of the Civilian JTF in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, gave a different account, saying the victims had gone to scoop petroleum products that had spilled into the river before they were overwhelmed by fumes from a vessel loading at the jetty.

Godswill said about 10 bodies had been recovered, with some victims still unidentified because their remains were badly damaged. He described the victims as mostly young people searching for means of livelihood.

He called on the Rivers State Government, community leaders and other authorities to create legitimate employment opportunities for youths, warning that dangerous activities could continue where people have no alternative means of survival.

YEAC-Nigeria also urged authorities to provide alternative livelihoods in the Niger Delta, including support for modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining, while warning youths about the dangers of tampering with high-pressure oil and gas infrastructure.