Okrika Tragedy: My Husband, Other Victims Foamed In The Mouth – Deceased’s Wife

Rivers begins investigation as JTF says victims choked to death

The search for her husband ended with a sight no wife should have to endure: his lifeless body brought home, with foam coming from his mouth.

For Madam Sarah, the tragedy at Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State turned a routine wait for her husband into a desperate search that ended in tears and anguish.

She was among relatives who searched for loved ones following reports of an incident allegedly involving the inhalation of toxic fumes during an illegal petroleum product loading operation.

But even as families mourned and searched for missing relatives, uncertainty persisted over what exactly happened and how many people died.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) claimed that no fewer than 37 persons died in the incident, while the LightHope Succour Worldwide Initiative (LSWI) said its preliminary enquiries could not establish that the reported incident occurred.

Sarah, who lost her husband in the incident, said she and her children began searching after he failed to return home.

According to her, the family was informed that three bodies had been found shortly after news of the incident spread, prompting them to rush to the scene.

“On Wednesday, we did not see my husband. So I called the children so we could go and search for him. That was when some people told us that they saw three dead bodies; that we should go and check if one of them was my husband.

“So, quickly, my children ran to the place and brought the three bodies back to the community. When they brought my husband, foam was coming out of his mouth. They said they inhaled gas,” she said.

The son of another victim, Tonye George, said his father was also among those who died, although the family could not establish the exact number of casualties.

“I heard the news. Unfortunately, my father was part of them. According to reports, there were many victims, but we don’t really know the number,” he said.

Another relative, Kingsley George, recounted how fishermen helped his family locate the body of his younger brother, Dennis.

“The death of my brother is shocking. On Wednesday morning, we went out to look for him; his name is Dennis. As we were going, we saw people who were catching fish, and they told us they had seen dead bodies.

“We went there and saw Dennis’ lifeless body. Other people were there looking for the corpses of their relatives as well,” he said.

LSWI, YEAC-Nigeria Differ On Casualty Figures, Incident

Meanwhile, there are conflicting reports about the incident

The executive director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, said the incident reportedly occurred at about midnight on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at Okari Jetty, Okrika Mainland.

According to him, many others were still missing, while some corpses were reportedly seen floating on the river but had yet to be recovered.

No Evidence Incident Occurred, Say LSWI

However, LSWI disputed the account, saying its preliminary enquiries could not establish that the reported incident occurred.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, the organisation said it had sought clarification from relevant security authorities following widespread reports that 37 people had died after inhaling suspected toxic fumes.

The statement, signed by the organisation’s media lead, Evelyn Williams, said its enquiries involved senior officials of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army responsible for the area.

It reads in part: “LightHope Succour Worldwide Initiative wishes to draw the attention of the media and the general public to the widely circulated report alleging that 37 people died after inhaling suspected toxic fumes at Okari Jetty, Okrika Mainland, on 3 September 2026.

“Following the circulation of the report, the organisation undertook preliminary enquiries and sought direct clarification from senior authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army responsible for the area.

“The three security authorities confirmed that no such incident occurred at Okari Jetty on the date in question.”

The organisation further said its preliminary investigation had been unable to establish the veracity of the reported 37 fatalities and called on the report’s authors to provide verifiable evidence supporting the claim.

Many Of Them Were Choked To Death — JTF

However, the commander of the Civilian JTF in Okrika LGA, Igwe Godswill, described the incident as tragic, saying most of the victims were youths who had gone out in search of a means of livelihood.

Godswill said the bodies recovered showed signs consistent with severe exposure to the substance.

“We saw about 10 of them. Four were still unrecognisable, while four persons were identified. The rest could not be identified because their bodies were badly damaged and their faces were severely affected,” he said.

He lamented that people continued to visit the area despite warnings following the deaths.

“Even as of yesterday, people still went there, even though we had confirmed that people had died from the same activity,” he said.

The JTF commander also said many of the victims were believed to have choked to death, adding another dimension to the conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.

Rivers Government Probes Incident

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has commenced an investigation into the reported incident at Okari Jetty.

The spokesperson for the State Ministry of Health, Edna Alete, disclosed this in a chat with LEADERSHIP Weekend, saying a team had been dispatched to the scene to establish what happened.

Alete said, “We were not aware of the incident until now. However, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health has set up a team who are heading to the scene to see things for themselves.”

No Survivors Linked To Incident Found At Rivers’ Hospitals

When our correspondent visited the Okrika hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), members of the respective management teams, who declined to disclose their identities, said no survivors linked to the reported incident had been brought to either facility.

The development has further deepened uncertainty surrounding the incident, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances behind the deaths and establish the actual number of victims.

EXPLAINER

 What Happened?

A reported tragedy occurred at Okari Jetty, Okrika, amid allegations that people inhaled toxic fumes during an illegal petroleum product loading operation.

How Many Died?

YEAC-Nigeria claimed 37 people died, while the Civilian JTF commander said about 10 bodies were recovered. The actual casualty figure remains uncertain.

What Did Relatives Say?

Relatives said they searched for missing loved ones and recovered bodies. Some victims reportedly had foam coming from their mouths when brought home.

Why The Conflicting Reports?

LSWI said its enquiries with the police, Navy and Army found no evidence that the reported incident occurred, disputing claims of 37 deaths.

What Is Government Doing?

The Rivers State Government has launched an investigation, dispatching health officials to the scene. Hospitals visited also reported no survivors linked to the incident.