No fewer than 37 suspected oil thieves have been confirmed dead after they inhaled a petroleum product believed to be crude oil in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State in the early hours of Thursday, September 3.
According to reports, more than 100 persons, mostly youths, from Okrika and neighboring communities had stormed Okari jetty to tap petroleum products from a pipeline that transports petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical facility to the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that regularly came to load products for exports.
Eyewitnesses say while they were busy loading the products into the boats they came with, a strong smell enveloped the area, causing several of the youths to collapse. It is said that while some of the victims collapsed into the river, others who escaped have been taken to the hospital, where they are battling serious respiratory ailments.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Blessing Agabe, said an investigation has been launched into the unfortunate incident.
‘’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.’’
