43 killed by toxic fumes during suspected oil theft in Nigeria

At least 43 people have died after being exposed to toxic fumes while allegedly attempting to steal petroleum products from a pipeline in Nigeria’s Rivers State.

The incident took place at Okari Jetty in the Okrika area late Wednesday night (September 2).

More than 200 young people from Okrika and surrounding communities had reportedly gathered there in wooden boats to collect petroleum products from an illegal pipeline connection.

According to local residents, the group was trying to siphon products through an unauthorised tapping point while the pipeline was carrying petroleum products under high pressure to a vessel waiting for export. Toxic fumes released from the pipeline reportedly engulfed the boats, leaving several people unconscious.

Some victims fell into the river and drowned, according to residents.

Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances of the incident and confirm the number of casualties.

The Niger Delta-based environmental and human rights group Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) also reported multiple deaths. Its executive director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said several bodies had been seen floating in the river and that some people remained missing.

The group said the pipeline carries petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals area through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to vessels awaiting export. The victims were believed to have been exposed to toxic fumes while attempting to tap the high-pressure pipeline illegally.

The incident has again highlighted the deadly risks associated with illegal oil theft and refining in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, where security forces regularly conduct operations against crude oil theft, illegal refineries and illicit petroleum trading.

In April, the Nigerian military said it had destroyed 10 illegal refineries and arrested nine suspects during operations in Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states. More than 130,000 litres of stolen crude oil and over 26,000 litres of automotive gas oil were recovered during those operations.

On August 28, the Nigerian Navy reported destroying two illegal refineries in Rivers State and recovering 34,000 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil.