At least 37 people suspected of engaging in illegal oil activities have reportedly died in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State after inhaling a petroleum product believed to be crude oil.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where youths allegedly attempted to load petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline into waiting boats.

Reports indicate that more than 100 people from Okrika and neighbouring communities had converged on the jetty in locally made boats to collect the product.

A community source said a strong odour suddenly filled the area while the product was being loaded, causing several of the youths to collapse.

According to the source, some of the victims fell into the river, while others who managed to escape reportedly suffered severe respiratory complications and were taken to hospitals for treatment.

“As I speak to you, over 37 bodies were identified as Okrika people, while six others are yet to be identified and many are still missing,” the source said.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, also confirmed the incident, saying its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders across the Niger Delta received reports of the deaths.

The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said no fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves died after inhaling a substance locally referred to as “Indorama fuel.”

Dumnamene said the incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty.

According to him, the victims allegedly connected a pipe to an illegal tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that load products for export.

He explained that the victims were reportedly loading the product into their boats while a vessel was simultaneously receiving the product, resulting in their exposure to the substance being pumped under high pressure.

“The report further stated that while a vessel was loading the product and the men were simultaneously loading into their waiting boats from the illegal tapping point, they inhaled the product being pumped at high pressure.

“This led to the death of not fewer than 37 persons. Many are still missing, and some corpses have been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered,” he said.

Dumnamene called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to immediately carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the location to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also urged the company whose infrastructure was allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around its pipelines to prevent similar incidents.

The advocacy group condemned the alleged sabotage and warned youths against tampering with oil and gas infrastructure, citing the dangers associated with high-pressure petroleum products.

It also called for an investigation into the incident and urged the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for residents, including the development of modular refineries and legalisation of artisanal refining.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident.

The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the victims were allegedly attempting to steal crude oil when the incident occurred.

Agabe stated that although no formal complaint had been lodged with the command, the police had commenced an investigation.

“The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. However, no official complaint has been received in connection with the incident at this time.

“Investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain the facts,” she said.