By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt
PANIC has gripped Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State following an incident in which several persons suspected of illegally siphoning petroleum products reportedly died after inhaling toxic fumes.
While community sources put the death toll at 43, the Rivers State Police Command said it could not confirm the actual number of casualties, stressing that investigation into the incident was ongoing.
The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area.
It was gathered that a vessel had anchored at a jetty along the river to load petroleum products for export when more than 200 people, mostly youths from neighbouring communities, allegedly arrived in locally made boats to siphon the product from an illegal tapping point.
