At least 43 people have died after inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal fuel siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday when more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities reportedly arrived in wooden boats and attempted to siphon petroleum products from an illegally connected pipeline.

Witnesses said the victims were exposed to concentrated fumes while loading the product into their boats. Some reportedly lost consciousness and fell into the river, while others escaped with severe respiratory complications.

Thirty-seven of the deceased have reportedly been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six remain unidentified. Several others are still unaccounted for.

Blessing Agabe, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the actual casualty figure.

Fyneface Fyneface, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), said the victims had allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline transporting petroleum products from the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals facility through the Port Harcourt refinery corridor to export vessels.

YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation and urged operators to strengthen security around oil and gas infrastructure.

Fyneface also warned youths against tampering with petroleum facilities, while calling on the government to provide alternative livelihoods in the Niger Delta through initiatives including modular refineries, formalisation of artisanal refining and industrial development programmes.