Toxic gas kills 43 during attempted oil theft in Nigeria

Death toll from toxic gas leak in Nigeria rises to 43

Forty-three people exposed to toxic gas during an attempted oil theft in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State have died. Some people fell into the river and remain missing, while some survivors were hospitalized.

Scraper SystemSeptember 04, 2026, 11:43 AM

Death toll from toxic gas leak in Nigeria rises to 43

A toxic gas leak during an attempted oil theft by a group of young people in Nigeria’s Rivers State has killed 43 people.

The incident occurred at night at Okari Jetty in the Okirka local government area. Some people affected by the gas released during the attempted oil theft lost consciousness, fell into the river and remain missing.

Police continue investigation

Rivers State Police spokesperson Agabe Blessing Karbalo said those who died and those affected by the gas had been attempting to steal oil. Karbalo said the investigation was continuing to establish the full circumstances and extent of the incident.

Initial statements put the death toll at at least 37. Some survivors were hospitalized after experiencing difficulty breathing.