At least 37 dead in Nigeria pipeline incident, group says

At least 37 individuals lost their lives after inadvertently inhaling fumes while attempting to tap an oil pipeline in southern Nigeria, according to an environmental organization. The exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed by authorities. The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre reported the incident occurred around midnight on Thursday at Okrika, located in Rivers State.

Police stated the victims perished while trying to steal crude oil. Rivers police spokesperson ASP Blessing Kaborlo Agabe noted that an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to confirm the facts. This incident marks the deadliest known since at least October 2023, emphasizing the ongoing issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.

This area is notorious for illegal tapping activities that have resulted in deaths, pollution, and financial losses for Nigeria's oil industry. The environmental group reported that the incident took place at Okari Jetty while a vessel was loading, and suspects were allegedly siphoning a petroleum product under high pressure into boats.

They also mentioned that others are missing, and bodies have been spotted floating in the river. The Reuters news agency was unable to independently verify the incident and the death toll. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stated that circulated casualty figures remain unverified, and the substance involved requires technical confirmation.

They are working alongside security agencies to determine the number of deceased, injured, and missing individuals, as well as to investigate potential negligence, collusion, or criminal facilitation.