At least 43 people are feared dead and several others remain missing following an oil-related incident linked to an alleged illegal oil-siphoning operation in Rivers State, the police have confirmed.
The victims were caught in the incident while carrying out the unauthorised operation and are believed to have been exposed to hazardous substances.
The Rivers State Police Command said it was working to establish the exact number of casualties and account for those still missing.
According to the Command, investigations have commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those behind the illegal activity.
Rescue teams and security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the scene as authorities intensify efforts to recover possible victims and assess the full scale of the tragedy.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the dangers associated with illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta, where crude oil theft, unauthorised refining and oil siphoning have continued to endanger lives and cause environmental damage.
However, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) had yet to provide details about the incident.
