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Toxic fumes kill 37 people in Nigeria oil siphoning
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- At least 37 people died in Rivers state, Nigeria, during an attempt to steal oil from a loading vessel, mostly due to inhaling toxic fumes from illegal siphoning.
- The victims were siphoning crude oil from an unauthorized tapping point when they were exposed to high-pressure toxic fumes; several others remain missing.
- Nigerian police confirmed the deaths and are investigating the incident, attributing it to an alleged crude oil theft attempt.
- Oil theft is a widespread issue in Nigeria's Niger Delta, contributing to significant economic losses and environmental damage amid local poverty.
- The Nigerian government continues efforts to combat oil theft, which results in billions of dollars in annual losses.
