The investigation followed allegations by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) that the victims died after inhaling a petroleum product during an illegal oil-loading operation in the area.
YEAC-Nigeria, in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, said many others were still missing following the incident, which reportedly occurred at about midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area.
According to the organisation, the suspected oil thieves had connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline allegedly transporting products from Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels that come to load the products for export.
YEAC-Nigeria alleged that while a vessel was loading the product, the men were simultaneously filling their boats from the illegal tapping point when they inhaled the product being pumped at high pressure.
The organisation said the incident led to the deaths of no fewer than 37 persons, while several others remained missing. It added that some corpses had reportedly been seen floating on the river but had not yet been recovered.
An indigene of Okrika, Thank-God Akpagbara, told LEADERSHIP that most of those who died were elderly people.
Akpagbara also alleged that the poisonous substance came from pipelines linked to Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited.
However, the spokesman for Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited, Justice Bibiye, said the company’s products pass through facilities operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Bibiye said the company was investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site to establish the cause of the incident.
The organisation also urged companies whose facilities were allegedly vandalised to strengthen security around their pipelines to prevent a recurrence.
While condemning the alleged sabotage, YEAC-Nigeria warned youths against tampering with oil and gas infrastructure because of the dangers associated with high-pressure petroleum products.
It also called on the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal refiners in the Niger Delta, including through the establishment of modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.
