43 ‘Oil Thieves’ Killed, Many Others Missing In Rivers After Inhaling Petroleum Chemical
At least 43 suspected oil thieves have reportedly died after inhaling a petroleum product at an illegal tapping point in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Many others were also said to be missing following the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of the state.
The victims were reportedly among more than 200 youths from neighbouring communities who arrived at the riverside jetty in locally made boats to illegally siphon petroleum products while a vessel was loading the product for export.
A community source said the incident occurred when the petroleum product, reportedly pumped at high pressure, released a pungent chemical odour into the surrounding area.
According to the source, several of the suspected oil thieves were overwhelmed by the fumes and collapsed into the river, while others who escaped suffered severe respiratory complications and were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The source said 37 of the bodies recovered had been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others were yet to be identified.
Several other persons were still unaccounted for, with some corpses reportedly seen floating on the river but yet to be recovered.
The incident was confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), which said its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in the Niger Delta alerted it to the development.
The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said no fewer than 37 people had so far been confirmed dead after inhaling a substance locally referred to as “Indorama Fuel.”
Fyneface said the incident occurred at about midnight on Thursday while suspected oil thieves were attempting to load the petroleum product from an illegally tapped point into waiting boats.
According to him, the youths had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline used to transport petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that reportedly arrive periodically to load products for export.
He said the victims inhaled the product while simultaneously loading it into their boats as the vessel was taking in the product.
“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.
Fyneface described the incident as tragic and called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He also urged the companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent further illegal tapping and similar incidents.
The YEAC-Nigeria director condemned the alleged sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure, warning youths in the Niger Delta against tampering with pipelines because of the dangers associated with high-pressure petroleum products.
He, however, urged the government to address the economic conditions driving young people into illegal oil activities by creating alternative livelihood opportunities.
Fyneface renewed his call for the establishment of modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining as part of measures to tackle illegal oil refining and provide economic opportunities for affected communities.
He also advocated the establishment of the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and the Niger Delta Industrial Park as possible interventions for displaced artisanal refiners in the region.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual number of casualties and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
