By admin 
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 37 people died in Nigeria’s oil-producing Rivers state as they were trying to steal oil from a loading vessel, an advocacy group said Friday.
Read more Russian attacks kill at least 3 in Ukraine as US talks on the war are expected
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Center said the victims were simultaneously siphoning crude products into their boats from an “illegal tapping point” on Thursday. It caused them to inhale toxic fumes at high pressure, leading to their deaths. Many are still missing, according to the report, quoting a network of volunteers.
The Nigerian police confirmed the incident on Friday but gave no death toll and said an investigation was underway.
Read more Israel frees 4 more Lebanese prisoners in a deal tied to missing Jews from Lebanon’s civil war
“The Rivers State Police Command can confirm the deaths. The victims were allegedly attempting to steal crude oil,” Blessing Agabe, Rivers State police spokesperson, said.
Oil theft is common in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, where decades of oil exploration have led to high levels of poverty and environmental degradation.
Read more An Israeli release, a shipping slowdown and other Mideast news