No fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves have reportedly died after inhaling a toxic substance believed to be petroleum fumes in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 3, when more than 100 youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities reportedly converged on Okari Jetty to siphon petroleum products from a pipeline linked to the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility and the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Eyewitnesses said the youths were loading the products into boats when a strong and unusual odour suddenly spread across the area, causing several of them to collapse.
While some of the victims reportedly fell into the river, others who survived were rushed to hospitals, where they are said to be receiving treatment for severe respiratory complications.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Blessing Agabe, said an investigation had commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to Agabe, the victims were suspected to have died while attempting to steal crude oil, although no official complaint had been received by the command at the time.
She said the police were working to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
