Delta community seeks govt intervention over oil spillage

Fear of unknown in Idheze community, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State over the alleged oil spillage in the area, on

Tuesday, heightened following strange colours discovered by its

residents flowing on top of their only source of drinking water.

While the residents have continued to live in fear of the

dangers the strange substance posed to their health, reports said that

the oil spillage allegedly occurred in the month of June 13, 2016,

following the rapturing of a pipeline operated by a firm (name withheld) exploring crude in the community,

by suspected militants’ group, Niger Delta Avengers.

Consequently, the residents through their spokesman, Mr. Rueben Emeleze,

have asked the state government to hold the oil exploration firm

responsible for the spillage, the resultant fire outbreak and the

pollution, which they claimed, at presentm posed

serious threat to their health.

The residents have also asked the state government to compel the oil

firm to urgently embark on the clean-up of the community, or may face

unrest.

Emeleze explained that while the residents

were fast asleep, they were woken up suddenly

by a loud bang which shook the entire community, adding that since

then, the only source of their drinking water from the river, had

started unfolding strange substance with different colours.

He said: “We have no means of drinking water, the entire river where

we fetch water has turned red, blue, in short with different colours”,

adding that residents who ran out during the oil spillage from their

houses and headed towards different directions feared  it was

“Armageddon”.

Also speaking, the chairman of the community, Mr. Feme Samson, said

that the failure of the oil company to send environmental

experts to the community to examine the extent of the damage on

the land and source of their drinking water, had continued to instill

fear in the residents.

He said: “Failure to clean up the oil, especially as it has

polluted the river we drink from, shows the dangers we face. We sent

letters to the company. Our hope is that government will put efforts

into the issue in order to ensure a quick response”.