At least 37 people are believed to have died after inhaling toxic fumes from illegally siphoned petrol in Okrika, a community in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, reports said. The Yevo Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Centre (YEAC) stated that its volunteers and human rights defenders reported the deaths, saying locals had breathed in what is known locally as “Indorama fuel” — a form of refined petrol technically classified as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called on the public and media to depend only on verified information while security agencies investigate the early-morning incident on Thursday. The NSCDC strongly condemned illegal tapping and siphoning, warning that such activities endanger lives, harm the environment, and threaten the economy.
Activists and campaigners have long linked oil theft and illegal refining to severe environmental damage across the Niger Delta region.
The fatalities come amid intensified government operations against petroleum theft. On Thursday, Naval Information Director Captain Abiodun Folorunsho told Channels TV that thieves now had “no hiding place” from naval patrols along the waterways and coastal zones. “Their days are numbered, and if we catch you, we will ensure you face the law,” he said.
The military and other security forces have also conducted operations targeting oil thieves who frequently operate from the area’s dense mangrove forests.
Nigeria is seeking to raise crude output after years of losses caused by theft, insecurity and underinvestment. The government aims to boost production to approximately three million barrels per day by 2030, relying on improved security and regulatory reforms to attract fresh investment.
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