‘Poisonous Fuel’ Mystery: Over 37 Dead as Government Remains Silent

More than 37 people have reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes during an incident involving petroleum products at Okari Jetty in Okrika Mainland, Rivers State, with conflicting accounts emerging over the substance involved and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on September 3, 2026, when a large number of people gathered at the waterfront while a vessel was loading petroleum products. Several victims were said to have collapsed after being exposed to strong fumes, with some reportedly falling into the river.

Ejes Gist News reports that the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the deaths and commenced an investigation, but the exact cause of the fatalities remains under investigation. Civil society groups and community sources have described the substance involved as poisonous petroleum product, while the police said the victims were allegedly attempting to steal crude oil.

‘Poisonous Fuel’ Mystery Deepens

The deaths have triggered questions over what the victims inhaled and why the substance reportedly caused multiple people to collapse within a short period.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, said no fewer than 37 people died after inhaling what it described as a substance locally known as “Indorama fuel”. The organisation said several others remained missing and that some bodies were reportedly seen floating on the river.

According to YEAC-Nigeria, the incident occurred while a vessel was loading petroleum products and individuals were allegedly transferring the product into waiting boats through an illegal tapping point.

The organisation said the product was being pumped through the pipeline under high pressure when those involved were exposed to the fumes.

However, the description of the substance as “poisonous fuel” has not been established through a publicly disclosed laboratory analysis. The cause of death and the precise chemical composition of the substance remain matters for investigation.

Conflicting Accounts Over How the Deaths Occurred

The Rivers State Police Command gave a different account of the incident.

Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said the victims were suspected to have been attempting to steal crude oil when they reportedly died. She added that no formal complaint had been received by the command but confirmed that an investigation had commenced to establish what happened.

A separate account from the Okrika community disputed the description of the victims as oil thieves.

Igwe Godswill, identified as the Civilian JTF commander in Okrika Local Government Area, said the youths had allegedly gone to scoop petroleum products that had spilled into the river before being overwhelmed by fumes from a vessel loading products at the jetty. He said some victims were taken to hospital after experiencing respiratory difficulties.

The differing accounts have left important questions unanswered, including the identity of the substance, its source, the circumstances that caused the reported deaths and the number of people still missing.

Bodies Reportedly Found Near Okari Jetty

Witness accounts cited in reports on the incident described a chaotic scene around the waterfront after people began collapsing.

Some reports said victims fell into the river, while others reportedly escaped from the area after experiencing breathing difficulties. YEAC-Nigeria also said some corpses were seen floating in the river but had not been recovered at the time of its report.

A community source separately claimed that more than 37 bodies had been identified as Okrika indigenes, while additional bodies remained unidentified and several people were still missing. That figure and the status of the missing persons remain subject to official verification.

Police Investigation Underway

The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the substance to which the victims were exposed.

The police have described the victims as suspected oil thieves, while environmental advocates have called for an independent investigation into the petroleum product and the operation at the jetty.

YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the affected location.

The organisation also urged companies whose infrastructure may have been involved to strengthen security around oil pipelines and warned of the dangers associated with unauthorised interference with high-pressure petroleum infrastructure.

Indorama Responds to Rivers Deaths

Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited has also indicated that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The company’s spokesman, Justice Bibiye, said the company’s products pass through facilities belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, while the precise connection between the company’s facilities and the incident remains part of the emerging investigation.

The incident occurred in Okrika, a riverine area of Rivers State where waterways and oil infrastructure form an important part of local economic activity.

The deaths have consequently raised fresh concerns over illegal oil tapping, exposure to petroleum fumes, pipeline security and the risks faced by people operating around oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta.

As investigations continue, key issues remain unresolved, including the exact number of fatalities, the number of missing persons, the identity and toxicity of the substance involved, and the precise circumstances that led to the deaths at Okari Jetty.