Oil theft: How 37 died in Rivers
No fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves have been choked to death after inhaling a substance from the stolen crude product they were loading into boats at Okari Jetty in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State in the early hours of Thursday. Though locals at the jetty said the number of casualties could be […]
In the early hours of Thursday, no fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves lost their lives after inhaling a toxic substance from crude oil they were loading onto boats at Okari Jetty in Okirika Local Government Area, Rivers State. The incident occurred when over 200 people, mostly youths from neighboring communities, stormed the jetty with homemade boats to steal petroleum for export.
The victims, who were involved in illegally tapping into a pipeline that transported product from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery, inhaled the substance pumped at high pressure. Many of them collapsed into the river, while others managed to escape with severe respiratory problems, now being treated at an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
Community sources reported that the death toll could be as high as 43, but 37 deaths were confirmed at the time of filing this report. A community source told Daily Trust that many others involved in the act were still missing. The Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, confirmed the incident and called for a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site.
Dr. Fyneface warned companies that owned the vandalized facilities to provide adequate security on their pipelines to prevent future incidents and denounced the act of sabotage by the youths. He also urged the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities, including modular refineries and the legalization of artisanal refining through initiatives like the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and the proposed Niger Delta Industrial Park.
A resident of Okrika and a fisherman described the incident as a "big tragedy" for the people of Okrika, urging companies to ensure adequate security around their operation areas due to the dangers involved. A student activist in the area, Tams George, blamed the incident on unemployment, poverty, and the daily struggle to survive among Nigerian youths, urging them to acquire skills, embrace entrepreneurship, and support small businesses.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
