An oil spill accident in Nigeria caused the death of dozens and the injury of others

Panic prevailed in Okrika County, Rivers State, Nigeria, following an incident that claimed the lives of “thieves” suspected of illegally withdrawing petroleum products as a result of inhaling toxic fumes.

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While local sources estimated the death toll at about 43 people, the Rivers State Police Command reported that it was unable to confirm the actual number of victims, stressing that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday at the Okari Pier in the district. Reports stated that a tanker was anchored at a pier along the river to load petroleum products for export, when more than 200 people, the majority of whom were youth from neighboring communities, arrived in homemade boats, with the aim of withdrawing the product from an illegal delivery point.

During the loading process, the area was saturated with pungent fumes emanating from the petroleum product, causing many attendees to faint.

Some victims fell into the river, while others who survived suffered serious respiratory complications and were taken to hospitals for treatment. 37 bodies were identified as Okrika citizens, while 6 others were unidentified, with several people reported missing.

Executive Director of the Center for Youth and Environmental Advocacy in Nigeria, Fineface Domnamin Fineface, said the incident occurred during an alleged attempt to illegally load the product onto boats.

He explained that the victims had attached a pipe to a connection point on a pipeline said to transport petroleum products from the Indorama Elemi petrochemical complex through the Port Harcourt refinery to tankers visiting the area to load the products for export.

The product was pumped under extreme pressure when victims inhaled the fumes, resulting in several deaths, Fineves said. He added that some bodies were reported to have been seen floating on the river and have not yet been recovered, while others are still missing.

However, Rivers State Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Blessing Agabi Kaborio said the command was unable to confirm the reported death toll.

Caporio said some people who went to dredge the crude oil during the operation had died, and he could not provide the actual number now because the investigation is still ongoing. The police confirmed that the investigation will result in determining the circumstances surrounding the incident and the actual number of victims.