About 37 persons have reportedly died after inhaling a toxic petroleum product while allegedly loading illegally tapped “Indorama fuel” at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Rivers State.
Several others were said to be missing following the incident, which reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
It was gathered that more than 200 persons, mostly youths from neighbouring communities, had stormed the jetty in locally made boats to load the product from an illegally tapped point.
A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the pungent odour from the petroleum product filled the atmosphere during the illegal loading operation, causing several people to collapse.
According to the source, some of the victims fell into the river, while others who escaped the scene developed severe respiratory complications and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The source said 37 bodies had so far been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others were yet to be identified, adding that several persons remained missing.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident, saying its network of youth volunteers and human rights defenders in Okrika Local Government Area had reported the deaths.
The Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said about 37 persons suspected to be involved in oil theft died after inhaling what is locally referred to as “Indorama fuel.”
He said the incident occurred at Okari Jetty while a vessel was loading the product and suspected oil thieves were simultaneously filling their boats from an illegal tapping point.
According to him, the victims allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline conveying products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals els that reportedly arrive periodically to load the product for export.

through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that reportedly arrive periodically to load the product for export.
Fyneface said the product was being pumped at high pressure when those involved in the illegal loading operation inhaled the fumes, resulting in the deaths.
He added that some corpses had reportedly been sighted floating on the river but had yet to be recovered, while several others remained missing.
Fyneface called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the scene to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He also urged the companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent further incidents.
The YEAC-Nigeria director condemned the alleged sabotage, warning youths involved in oil theft to stay away from petroleum iated with high-pressure pipelines and toxic hydrocarbon products.

infrastructure because of the dangers associated with high-pressure pipelines and toxic hydrocarbon products.
He, however, called for government intervention through alternative livelihood programmes, including the promotion of modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.
Fyneface advocated the establishment of the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) and the Niger Delta Industrial Park as measures to create alternative economic opportunities for displaced artisanal refiners in the region.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, ASP Agabe Blessing Karbalo, confirmed the incident.
She, however, said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual number of casualties and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has opened a fresh front in its dispute with PAMO University of Medical Sciences, constituting a seven-member ad hoc committee to probe funds released to the institution by the state government since its establishment in 2017.
The investigation, approved by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, is being conducted under Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The seven-member committee is chaired by Dumle Maol. Other members are Silvanus Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Henrietta Loolo, Peter Abbey, Napoleon Ukalikpe and Emilia Amadi.

The committee is expected to establish the total amount of public funds released to PAMO University over the years and determine whether the money was utilised for the purposes for which it was provided.
It will also investigate the university’s scholarship scheme, including the number and identities of beneficiaries, if any, alongside other issues relating to the management and utilisation of government funds.

the management and utilisation of government funds.
The development is likely to deepen the controversy surrounding the university and the Assembly, coming shortly after the legislature declined to approve the N6 billion allocation proposed for PAMO University in the state’s 2026 budget.
The Assembly’s latest action also comes against the backdrop of a legal threat issued by PAMO University to the Speaker.
The university, through its solicitors, had demanded the retraction of what it described as malicious and defamatory apology.

comments attributed to Hon. Amaewhule concerning the institution, as well as a public apology.
The university warned that failure to meet its demands could result in legal action against the Speaker.
With the Assembly now launching a formal probe into the university’s funding, the dispute appears set to assume a broader financial and constitutional dimension.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the House on or before September 30, 2026.

Public Relations has been identified as a veritable tool in fostering goodwill and mutual relationship between security agencies and the public they serve.
The State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State, Dennis Lesor Reuben, stated this recently when the Executive Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Port Harcourt.
He noted that partnership between both organizations will enable the public understand the core duties of the Corps, which includes ensuring security of lives and property and fostering peace and conflict resolution in civil matters.
Reuben said: “The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps is empowered to arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute in the name of the Attorney General of the federation anybody involved or suspected to be involved in any criminal matter.
“Section 3 subsection U and V further gives us plus one. That plus one is that we have power to mediate between two willing members of the public that have issues.
“This means the Civil defense can mediate any civil matter and we have a unit for that, the peace and conflict resolution. So, tell the public.”
He observed that most members of the public are unaware of the aspect of peace and conflict resolution of the Corps in order to take advantage of it in resolving civil matters.
Earlier, Chairman of NIPR Rivers State, Rev. Francis Asuk, said the purpose of the visit was to seek for partnership and area of collaboration with the commandant who recently assumed duties in Rivers State, and to explore areas of capacity building for the officers and men of the Corps as they need public relations skills in carrying out their duties.
Represented by the Vice Chairman of the Chapter, Dr. Parry Saroh Benson, he asked that members of the Corps, especially those in the Public Relations unit, be allowed to identify and regularise their membership with the institute so they would get the requisite training and knowledge.
He also extended an invitation to the Commandant to the upcoming World Public Relations Conference which would hold in Abuja in November 2026, where public relations professionals from over 126 countries would be in Nigeria to chart a new course for Public Relations practice.
An invitation was also extended to the NSCDC to the upcoming Rivers Pubic Relations Week billed to hold from 7th- 9th October 2026.

The NSCDC boss pledged his support to the programmes and activities of the NIPR in the State and presented the enabling Act and other literature about the NSCDC.
Corps Commandant Dennis Lesor Reuben is from Baen Town in Khana LGA, Rivers State and has a PhD in Human and Personnel Management.
He has served in 16 states across Nigeria in various capacities before assuming duty as the Corps Commandant at the Rivers State Command on 11th June, 2026.
He is also an author of many books on security issues and contributed to many scholarly journals.