Nigeria: Suspected oil thieves dead after inhaling fumes
A Nigerian environmental group says that at least 37 people died trying to siphon crude oil off a ship illegally. Police acknowledged a fatal incident but gave fewer details, saying investigations continued.
At least 37 people died in Nigeria while attempting to illegally steal oil from a loading vessel in Okrika, Rivers State, in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. According to the Youth and Advocacy Centre, most victims succumbed to hazardous fumes. The incident occurred overnight on Thursday at a jetty where a vessel was loading crude oil from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The group stated that the deaths were those of suspected oil thieves trying to siphon the commodity onto boats through an illegal tapping point. Other individuals are reportedly still missing and potentially in the water, as per a network of volunteers. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the fatalities, while investigating the incident further.
Oil theft is prevalent in the Niger Delta, with the Nigerian government estimating losses worth several billion dollars annually. Authorities have been striving to curb this practice, as it often leads to leaks and environmental damage. If verified, this incident would be the worst fatal accident connected to attempted oil theft since October 2023.
However, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps stated that casualty figures were unverified and they were collaborating with other agencies to clarify the details.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
