Contrary to claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that there were no casualties in the fire incident that engulfed its facility in Cawthorne Channel 1, three corpses suspected to be the remains of the victims have been found washed ashore.

Kristina Reports learnt that the bodies which have scars of fire burns were discovered on Monday, February 24, 2025 at about 2pm on the shores of a fishing settlement behind Biekiri in the Cawthorne Channel axis of Iloamatoru Community.

A surveillance team in the area was alerted to the discovery of two bodies but on arrival found only one and were told the other had been carried by the waves to another area.

The search and rescue team took the first body into custody and went in search of the second one, only to discover two others, making three altogether.

Speaking on the development, immediate past Chairman of the Iloamatoru Community Surveillance Committee, Daniel Pollyn expressed regret over the incident, urging families of staff of NNPCL, OML 18 Energy, Sahara Group and Eroton Exploration & Production Company Limited working around Cawthorne Channel 1 to check with their loved ones.

“We shall take the corpses to the Police to do the needful but families of NNPCL, OML 18, Sahara and Eroton that have people working in that area should check with their loved ones.”  

“They should check with the Police to identify the body if it is their relative. I think they should not take the NNPCL claim seriously, though we won’t interfere with that.”  

On our part, all our community members who are working there have been accounted for but we can’t say the same for the company workers. Let their families ask the company questions if their relatives have not come home since that Wednesday.”  

A fire incident had on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 engulfed a facility at Cawthorne Channel 1 which is linked to OML 18 in Alakiri in Okrika LGA jointly operated by NNPC Eighteen Operating Limited, NNPC Limited and OML 18 Energy Limited.

Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement informed that a fire broke out on the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1, Rivers State, spreading to other barges at approximately 14:10 hours on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

According to him, the swift response of the company’s emergency teams and industry partners, the fire was successfully contained, adding that “the incident did not impact on flow station operations”.

Soneye stated that there were no casualties and all personnel working on the said barges are all safe, asserting that the NNPCL prioritizes the safety of its staff and stakeholders and fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity.

“Most importantly, there were no casualties, and all personnel are safe.

“NNPC Ltd. prioritizes safety and remains fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity.”

This claim by the company has now punctured by the discovery of these three lifeless bodies with clear indications of burns.