Midnight Crude Operation Turns Deadly: 37 Suspected Oil Thieves Choke to Death in Rivers

A devastating tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Rivers State, where no fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves lost their lives after inhaling toxic petroleum fumes during an illegal loading operation . The incident has left scores of young people dead, many others missing, and entire communities in mourning .

The victims were among a large group of youths—reportedly over 200 people—from Okrika and neighbouring communities who had converged on the waterfront with locally made boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegally tapped pipeline point . The group had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline that transports petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that regularly arrive to load products for export . What began as an illicit quest for quick economic gain quickly descended into a mass casualty event that has sent shockwaves through the Niger Delta region .

The situation turned fatal when the atmosphere became saturated with strong fumes from the petroleum product being pumped at high pressure . The victims, who were simultaneously loading the product into their boats while a vessel was also loading at the jetty, inhaled the toxic substance and collapsed in what witnesses described as a scene of utter chaos and confusion . Some victims fell into the river, while others who managed to escape suffered serious respiratory complications and were rushed to hospitals for treatment . The exact number of people involved in the illegal operation and the final casualty figure remained unclear as of Thursday afternoon, with community sources suggesting the death toll could be higher .

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A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, painted a grim picture of the aftermath: “As I speak to you, over 37 bodies were identified as Okrika people while six others were yet to be identified and many are still missing” . Some corpses have reportedly been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered, as residents continued to search the waterways for people who may have fallen into the river while attempting to escape the fumes . The identities of several of the deceased were yet to be established as of the time of filing this report .

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident through its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in the Niger Delta . Its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said no fewer than 37 people died after inhaling what residents locally refer to as “Indorama fuel” . Providing detailed accounts of the incident, he stated: “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 the incident occurred at approximately 12:00 am on Thursday at the Okari Jetty .

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying an investigation had commenced . The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe Kaborio, stated that the victims were suspected to have died while attempting to steal crude oil . “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 . The police have yet to release an official death toll, indicating that investigations were still in their early stages .

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YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths . The advocacy group also urged companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines and other oil infrastructure to prevent a recurrence of such incidents . Dr Fyneface emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to establish what exactly happened and to hold any negligent parties accountable .

While condemning the alleged act of pipeline vandalism and illegal siphoning, Dr Fyneface warned youths against approaching oil and gas infrastructure, citing the dangers associated with high-pressure petroleum products . He noted that the tragedy could have been avoided if the youths had heeded repeated warnings about the risks of illegal oil bunkering . He also called on the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal refiners and other vulnerable residents in the Niger Delta . The group renewed its call for the development of modular refineries and the establishment of an industrial park in the region as alternative economic opportunities for people involved in illegal refining . “The government must address the root causes of illegal oil bunkering by providing sustainable economic alternatives for our youths,” he said .

The Okrika incident occurred amid intensified military operations against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta . The Defence Headquarters recently disclosed that troops operating under Operation Delta Safe deactivated 21 illegal refining sites and recovered about 696,800 litres of stolen crude oil and petroleum products across the South-South in August . The military also said 43 suspects were arrested and 38 civilians rescued during the operations . Despite these efforts, the latest tragedy underscores the persistent and deadly nature of illegal oil activities in the region .

This is not the first deadly petroleum-related incident at Okari Jetty. In August 2023, an explosion and fire linked to the scooping of petroleum products at the jetty reportedly killed several people and caused environmental damage, including the death of aquatic life . The recurrence of such tragedies has raised urgent questions about the effectiveness of current security measures and the need for more comprehensive interventions .

The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the persistent dangers of illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and the urgent need for sustainable economic alternatives for the region’s youth . Following Thursday’s incident, residents were reportedly searching the waterways for people who may have fallen into the river while attempting to escape the fumes . The identities of several of the deceased were yet to be established as of the time of filing the report . The final casualty figure remained unclear, with community sources suggesting the death toll could be higher than the official count of 37 . As the community mourns its dead, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of illegal oil activities and the urgent need for government action to address the underlying economic and social factors driving youths into such dangerous enterprises .

Midnight Crude Operation Turns Deadly: 37 Suspected Oil Thieves Choke to Death in Rivers