Rufus is a young, ambitious journalist seeking a career-making story in the Niger Delta. He feels deep guilt over his absence during family tragedies, specifically concerning his sister Boma's injuries and abandonment. He views Zaq as an idol, tolerating the older man's flaws out of respect for his journalistic legacy and a desire to prove his own worth in the field.

Zaq is a famous, veteran journalist known for his human-interest stories and unique reporting angles. He struggles with severe alcohol addiction and physical illness, which heavily limit his mobility on the dangerous river mission. Despite his physical deterioration and professional fall from grace, he retains a fierce sense of pride and a cynical view of the world.

A cruel military commander tasked with protecting the oil industry's interests. Traumatized by a violent assault on his daughter in the past, he now uses extreme terror tactics to assert control in the Delta. He frequently pours corrosive petrol on prisoners to punish them and assert dominance.

A fearsome and ruthless militant leader operating in the Niger Delta. He claims to fight against the government and oil companies for the liberation of his people, enforcing his authority through violence, intimidation, and kidnappings.

Tamuno is an elderly fisherman who serves as a guide for the journalists through the treacherous waters of the Niger Delta. He is fiercely protective of his young son, hoping to secure a better future for him away from the polluted villages and escalating violence.

The leader of a small village near the river. He attempts to keep his community safe from the ongoing conflicts between the military, militants, and oil companies, offering temporary hospitality to travelers passing through his territory.

Rufus's sister, whose face is badly scarred from a past oil fire. She carries physical and emotional trauma, having been abandoned by her husband after he left to join the militants. She relies on Rufus for rent money and emotional support while searching for a sense of peace.

A wealthy British oil executive whose wife has gone missing. He views Nigeria and its people with dismissive frustration, blaming the local population for corruption while ignoring his industry's role in the crisis. He seeks to resolve the kidnapping with cash payouts rather than addressing the underlying regional conflicts.

A British woman who travels to Nigeria to save her failing marriage to James. She becomes a high-value bargaining chip in the conflict between militant groups and the military after disappearing during a night out in the city.

Isabel Floode's driver and closest confidant in Nigeria. He is engaged to Koko, a worker in the Floode household, and becomes directly involved in the dangerous events surrounding Isabel's disappearance into the Delta.

An assistant to the head priest of an island shrine. He helps maintain the religious community that worships the healing powers of the sea, managing the constant threat of passing military and militant forces while attempting to protect the worshippers.

A nurse who works at the island shrine, attending to the medical needs of the local community. She provides medical care for Zaq's fever and forms a close, intimate connection with Rufus during his stay on the island.

A young boy who travels with his father as a guide for the journalists. He faces a bleak future in the polluted Delta region, prompting his father to beg the journalists to take the boy to Port Harcourt once the mission concludes.

Boma's former husband who grew up alongside her and Rufus. He becomes radicalized by anger against the government and abandons his marriage to fight alongside the militants in the Delta.

A maid working in the Floode household in Port Harcourt. Her romantic involvement and subsequent pregnancy with her employer creates severe complications for her fiancé and the surrounding characters.

An editor at the Star newspaper who worked as a rookie reporter alongside Zaq in the past. He provides Rufus with background information about Zaq's turbulent career, past scandals, and eventual fall from grace.