Four Okrika Tragedy Victims Recovered From Creeks

Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State yesterday said they discovered four corpses in the creeks close to the jetty linked to the recent tragic incident in Okrika Mainland.

NSCDC spokesman in the state, Olufemi Ayodele, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, gave the names of the deceased persons as Taribo Levia, Ogoloma Tamunoene Fred, Amiso, and Belema Siyerminma from Ngabiri.

The corps said in a statement, “Following the incident, a team of the NSCDC Rivers State Command conducted further assessment and surveillance of the affected area and was able to sight four corpses believed to be connected to the incident. The development has necessitated further verification of the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

“One of the victims earlier identified was Taribo Levia, whose remains have reportedly been buried according to the traditional customs of the community. Other deceased persons reportedly sighted include Ogoloma Tamunoene Fred, Amiso, and Belema Siyerminma from Ngabiri.

“The Command notes that the initial casualty figures circulating in the aftermath of the incident were not fully verified and may have been overstated. The command is therefore relying on information obtained through its ongoing field assessment and investigation to establish the actual number of victims.

Meanwhile, residents of Ibuluya-Okrika, the host community of the jetty where several deaths were reported recently, say the incident must have occurred in the creeks.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Okrika Mainland, an indigene of the community, John Iyo, said, “Where we are is Ibuluya community and in fact in the whole of Okrika Mainland, nothing like that had happened.”

Another resident, Madam Felicia Jacob, said: “I am from Ibuluya community; that kind of thing didn’t happen. We did not experience anything like that before. As you can see, we are drinking. We only heard that something happened.”

Also speaking to journalists at the entrance of the jetty, coordinator of pipeline surveillance, Major Fidelis Akandu (Rtd), alleged that community folks rupture oil pipelines and lay pipes up to 100 meters under water in order to steal petroleum products.

Akandu said the incident did not occur at the facility and challenged those claiming that people died at the jetty to provide their corpses.

“Since Monday because I have been here because the company has a product they are lifting into that ship there. The Indorama pipeline started from the fence of the Port Harcourt Refinery to the NNPCL jetty here. I have been here from Monday till now and I am surprised to hear such story. It is disheartening that people are not saying things they as they are,” he said.