Not less than 43 suspected oil thieves died from inhaling gas from petroleum products during an illegal petroleum product loading at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
The incident happened at midnight on Thursday when over 200 youths from surrounding communities arrived at the jetty in locally made boats to siphon the fuel from the illegally tapped pipeline.
According to the Nations report, the casualties occurred as the youths were overcome by the fumes from the petroleum products being siphoned from the pipeline under great pressure.
Some of the youths plunged into the river while others survived with severe breathing problems.
More details revealed that the number of those who died from the gas inhalation had been identified as 37 indigenes of Okrika while six others are yet to be identified.
In addition, some other youths are still missing.
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YEAC-Nigeria has confirmed the reports, as the agency’s volunteers and human rights observers in the council’s jurisdiction reported not less than 37 deaths from the gas leak incident that occurred at Okari Jetty, Okrika.
YEAC-Nigeria Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, described the product as “Indorama Fuel” and said their volunteers arrived at the scene when youths were siphoning the illegal fuel from a vessel during loading.
Dr. Fyneface urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to carry out a Joint Investigation Visit to the location and advised the operators of the pipeline whose valve was tampered with to increase security around the site.
He also urged youths not to continue their activities, adding that petroleum products under huge pressure are harmful to health.
The Rivers State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Agabe Karbalo, confirmed the reports but stated that investigations were ongoing to determine the exact number of those killed and the cause of the gas leak.
The police also said they would investigate the circumstances that led to the incident.
