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

Man Faces Treasonable Felony Charge Over Alleged Destruction of Tinubu Campaign Billboards

A Katsina State resident, Aminu Sanda, popularly known as Nesta, has been remanded in custody after being charged with a treasonable felony over allegations that he destroyed campaign billboards belonging to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The charges, which have drawn sharp criticism from legal practitioners, also include breaking into the Katsina State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and allegedly stealing ₦35 million. Sanda, who was initially invited by the police in Katsina State before being transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, has vehemently denied all the allegations. He insists that he could not have targeted President Tinubu’s campaign billboards because he serves as the Katsina State chairman of the Dikko/Tinubu Vanguard, a political support group for the President. “How can I, being the state chairman of Dikko/Tinubu Vanguard, a political support group for the President, turn around to pull down his billboards? It does not make sense,” Sanda was quoted as saying. His legal team has also rejected the allegations and questioned the basis for subjecting their client to prolonged detention while investigations are ongoing. They maintained that the serious offences being alleged must be established with credible evidence and in accordance with due process.

Following his transfer to Abuja, the police obtained an order from a Magistrate Court sitting in Jiwa, Federal Capital Territory, to remand Sanda while investigations continued. The police had initially sought a two-week remand through a motion ex parte, arguing that more time was required to investigate the allegations. However, when Sanda’s legal team appeared in court on Tuesday to apply for his bail, the police filed another application requesting a further two-week extension of his detention. The prosecution cited the need to complete additional aspects of the investigation. Magistrate Huzaifa Macchudo reserved ruling on the bail application and adjourned the matter until September 15. Sanda’s lawyers expressed concern that the reserved ruling could give the police an opportunity to obtain another extension of his remand before the court determines whether he should be released on bail. Sanda remains in custody pending the court’s decision, while the allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

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The treasonable felony charge has attracted criticism from legal practitioners who questioned whether the alleged destruction of a political billboard meets the legal threshold for such an offence. “It’s shocking that removing a billboard would amount to a treasonable felony,” a human rights lawyer, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, told Daily Trust. “Felony has a definition. Treason also has a definition. Removing a billboard is political.” An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barrister Abdurrahman Salis, described the treasonable felony charge against Sanda as “surprising,” arguing that the alleged pulling down of President Tinubu’s billboard did not, on its face, fall within the legal definition of the offence. According to Salis, treasonable felony could involve an intention to unlawfully remove the President or a state governor outside constitutional means, an intention to wage war against Nigeria, or involvement in instigating an armed invasion of the country. “Under the treasonable felony provisions that we are talking about, there is nowhere that pulling down a presidential billboard is mentioned as a treasonable felony,” he said. The legal debate has further intensified public scrutiny of the case, with many Nigerians questioning whether the police have overreached in their application of treason laws to what some view as a political dispute.

The case has emerged against the backdrop of growing political tension within the Katsina State chapter of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The controversy reportedly began following the destruction of campaign billboards bearing the images of President Tinubu and his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, in Katsina State. The incident had already attracted national attention after two security aides attached to Governor Umar Dikko Radda were reportedly invited to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja for questioning in connection with the alleged destruction of the billboards. Some political observers have viewed the billboard dispute as part of broader political tensions and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with competing interests linked to Governor Radda’s political structure and prominent federal-level politicians from the state. When contacted for comment, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, reportedly said he was not aware of the incident and did not respond to subsequent calls and messages seeking clarification.

Sanda remains in custody as his legal team continues to challenge the police application seeking a further two-week remand and awaits the Magistrate’s ruling on his bail application. The case has become a touchstone for broader conversations about the use of treasonable felony charges in Nigeria, with legal experts and civil society organizations calling for restraint in applying such serious charges to what may amount to political vandalism. The outcome of the bail ruling on September 15 will determine whether Sanda will regain his freedom pending the full hearing of the substantive charges against him. For now, the Katsina resident remains behind bars, his case serving as a cautionary tale about the intersection of politics, law enforcement, and the limits of state power in Nigeria’s increasingly charged political environment.

Man Faces Treasonable Felony Charge Over Alleged Destruction of Tinubu Campaign Billboards

Exposed: Atiku’s $1.2m-a-Year Adviser Once Jailed in US

—Court records reveal 180-day sentence for 2003 domestic violence case as policy adviser registers under FARA for former VP

Fresh court records have linked Nigerian-born American policy adviser Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten III to a 2003 domestic violence conviction in Washington, D.C., even as he registers as a policy adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under a $1.2 million annual agreement. Documents obtained by The Gazelle News detail a two-decade legal trail involving Okeke-Von Batten, who now operates through the lobbying firm von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., with a principal business address at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. The records reviewed include his 2003 assault conviction and jail term, his 2004 U.S. naturalisation, a 2006 name-change petition, a 2014 divorce proceeding in Texas, and his 2026 Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing on behalf of the former vice president.

According to court documents, Okeke-Von Batten—then identified as Karl M.E. Okeke—was involved in a domestic violence case with Cynthia D. Murphy following the start of their romantic relationship in April 2003. On July 4, 2003, Murphy attended a party at Okeke’s apartment. An argument later broke out. The court record states that Okeke burst through a bathroom door, ordered Murphy to leave, and inside the bedroom allegedly dragged her by her legs and arms, hit her repeatedly in the face, kicked her legs and buttocks, and pushed her against a wall. A police officer who observed the confrontation determined that Murphy appeared suicidal and transported her to a psychiatric emergency room and later to George Washington University Hospital. On July 7, 2003, Murphy filed a petition for a Civil Protection Order (CPO) against Okeke, resulting in a Temporary Protection Order. Okeke filed a cross-petition against her on July 15.

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Okeke was convicted of assault on December 10, 2003, and sentenced to 180 days in jail. On January 30, 2004, the trial court entered mutual CPOs against both parties and found Murphy in criminal contempt for violating the temporary order in October 2003. She received a 30-day suspended sentence. The trial court had based the CPO against Murphy on its finding that her initial refusal to leave Okeke’s apartment amounted to unlawful entry. In explaining the decision, the trial judge criticised Murphy’s conduct, stating: “There is no doubt in my mind that if [Ms.] Murphy had behaved as a mature, rational, sober, intelligent adult, that we would not be here today.” The judge also said he believed Murphy had brought upon herself whatever happened in the apartment, while expressing sympathy over the harm she suffered.

Murphy appealed the decision to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in case No. 04-FM-0579. The appeal was filed on May 24, 2004, before Associate Judge Blackburne-Rigsby. The matter was ultimately reversed and remanded, with the mandate issued on July 25, 2008. The Appellate Court held that unlawful entry could constitute an “offence upon a person” under the District of Columbia’s Intrafamily Offence Act because the law was intended to protect public safety as well as property. However, it ruled that the trial judge had improperly applied the law in entering the CPO against Murphy. The Appellate Court therefore reversed the order and directed the trial court to vacate it. The court upheld Murphy’s criminal contempt conviction for violating the Temporary Protection Order and remanded her request for counsel fees for reconsideration.

On March 16, 2006, Okeke filed a petition at the District of Columbia Superior Court to change his name from Karl-Marx Edward Okeke III to Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten III. An order of publication was issued the following day, requiring publication once a week for three weeks. The case was closed on December 6, 2006, after being dismissed for want of prosecution. His certificate of naturalisation identifies him as Karl Marx Edward Okeke III, born on October 20, 1976, with Nigeria listed as his former nationality. The certificate records his naturalisation on March 14, 2004, at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

A decade later, on April 7, 2014, Karl-Marx Okeke filed for divorce against Cynthia Okeke in Harris County, Texas. The case, Cause No. 201419183, was heard by the 310th District Court, presided over by Judge Sonya L. Heath. A substituted-service order was signed on August 26, 2014, before the matter proceeded to a non-jury trial on September 24. A default judgment was signed on September 29, 2014, with the docket indicating that each party was to bear their own costs. The case is listed as finally disposed, with no appeals, transfers, post-trial writs, notices or cost statements recorded.

The FARA registration, No. 7130, lists Atiku Abubakar as the foreign principal and states that Okeke-Von Batten is to receive $1.2 million annually. It was signed by “Kare Von Batten” on April 1, 2026, and received by the National Security Division’s FARA Registration Unit the same day. The filing marked political activity as “No” and referred to an appendix for details of the services to be provided to Atiku. It also disclosed two $5,000 political contributions made by Okeke-Von Batten to the DC GOP on March 26, 2026.

The documents establish a legal record spanning more than two decades, covering Okeke-Von Batten’s 2003 domestic violence proceedings, 2004 naturalisation, 2006 name-change petition, 2014 divorce, and 2026 FARA registration as a representative of Atiku Abubakar. However, the documents reviewed do not provide details of the specific services covered by the $1.2 million annual agreement beyond referring to an appendix. They also do not establish any connection between the earlier court proceedings and his 2026 FARA registration. When contacted, neither Atiku Abubakar’s media office nor Okeke-Von Batten had responded to inquiries at the time of filing this report.

Exposed: Atiku’s $1.2m-a-Year Adviser Once Jailed in US