What residents described as a desperate means of survival turned into tragedy in Okari Community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, on September 1, 2026, after several persons reportedly died while allegedly attempting to siphon petroleum product from a vessel.
The incident sent shock waves through the coastal community, with reports of bodies being recovered from the surrounding waterways.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, grieving families gathered as sympathisers visited to offer condolences, while the exact number of casualties remained unclear.
Residents, who spoke to Kristina Reports, said more bodies were still being recovered from the river as of the time of filing this report, making it difficult to establish the final death toll.
How the Incident Happened
Preliminary accounts gathered from residents indicated that a number of youths and other persons reportedly approached a vessel at a location near the Okari Jetty on the Okrika mainland, where petroleum products were being trans-loaded.
According to the accounts, the victims allegedly used a locally made boat to approach the vessel and siphon the product, locally referred to as “Indorama fuel.”
Residents said the situation became fatal when fumes from the product reportedly spread through the area. Several of those who were exposed were said to have collapsed, with some subsequently drowning in the river.
However, the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the exact cause of death and the number of people affected, could not be independently established as of the time of filing this report.
A Major Oil and Gas Community
Okrika is a coastal oil and gas-producing area of Rivers State that hosts significant petroleum infrastructure, including pipelines, jetties and other facilities.
The area is also connected to major petroleum operations around Port Harcourt, including infrastructure associated with the Port Harcourt Refining Company.
The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with illegal oil-related activities in communities where poverty and unemployment have pushed some residents towards hazardous means of making a living.
What Is “Indorama Fuel”?
The product popularly referred to by residents as “Indorama fuel” is reportedly associated with C5 hydrocarbons, a stream generated in petrochemical processing.
C5 hydrocarbons are highly volatile petroleum-derived products. Depending on their composition, exposure to concentrated vapours can pose serious health and safety risks, while many components are highly flammable.
The local name is reportedly linked to Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited, which operates a major petrochemical facility in Rivers State.
Families Blame Unemployment
For families of some of the deceased, the tragedy cannot be separated from the lack of employment opportunities available to young people in the community.
Relatives told Kristina Reports that many of the youths involved in hazardous oil-related activities do so because they have limited legitimate sources of income.
One of the deceased’s relatives, Miss Janny, appealed to the government to create employment opportunities for youths in the community.
“If the boys and men are working, they wouldn’t have gone to the vessel to tap fuel,” she said.
She argued that providing sustainable livelihoods could discourage young people from engaging in activities that expose them to potentially fatal risks.
Community Raises Traditional Concerns
Beyond the economic dimension, some residents have also attributed the recurring nature of similar incidents to traditional beliefs.
Mrs. Blessing, an indigene of the community, told Kristina Reports that similar tragedies had allegedly occurred at the location on previous occasions, citing incidents in 2007, 2014 and more recent years.
She said some residents believe traditional cleansing should be carried out at the location because, according to accounts within the community, people who go there to obtain the product sometimes report hearing strange voices.
Such claims could not be independently verified by Kristina Reports.
Call for Investigation, Alternative Livelihoods
Reacting to the incident, Executive Director of the Advocacy Centre, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Dumnamene also urged government to intensify efforts to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for people engaged in artisanal and illegal oil-related activities.
He advocated initiatives including modular refineries and the formalisation of artisanal refining, arguing that sustainable economic opportunities could help reduce the risks associated with illegal oil activities.
He further cited the proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORD) and the proposed Niger Delta Industrial Park as possible frameworks for creating alternative opportunities for displaced artisanal refiners in the region.
Indorama Responds
When Kristina Reports contacted Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited through its communications department on September 3, the company said it was investigating the claims surrounding the incident.
The company promised to provide feedback after its investigation.
As the community continues to recover from the tragedy, questions remain about the circumstances that led the victims to the vessel, the exact number of lives lost, the safety conditions surrounding the operation and the broader socioeconomic conditions driving residents into dangerous oil-related activities.
The final death toll and the findings of any official investigation are expected to provide further clarity on the incident.
