Oil spill sparks fire, devastates aquatic life in Rivers communities

A massive oil spill from a wellhead of Oil Mining Lease-15 a facility of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited has ignited a fire affecting aquatic life in Buguma in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The spill, which is said to have affected Asari-Ttoru and the neighbouring Degema LGA of the state has been raging for the third day running, spreading across the waterways.

Community sources on Wednesday said neither government agencies nor owners of the manifold had visited the scene.

They alleged that the spill and consequent fire had killed fishies, periwinkles and other aquatic life.

Speaking on the incident, the President of the Kalabari Youth Federation, Livingstone Membere, decried what he termed the insensitivity of the company operating the facility.

Membere stated, “No company, no government agency has come in to stop the spill. You can see the fire. We never knew it would get to this stage where we would now be living with hazardous gas.

“We want the federal government to immediately stop the fire and do remedial action. We also want a thorough clean-up of the environment.

“We want people that have been affected by this devastation to be adequately compensated.

“Now, the fire is four days old. The oil belongs to Nigeria, so why is the federal government failing?”

Another youth leader from Bukuma, Taribo Horsefall, said the fire erupted due to the siphoning of oil from a badge a few days ago, saying.

“The company brought a badge that was extorting oil from the ground.

“The crane was dragging something from the well to bring it out. What we saw was a spark, that’s how the fire came about. It was a spark that caused the fire.”

A chief in the community called for a swift response to the situation, saying, “We have to report to the concerned authority and we have been calling them for some days now, nothing has been done. It is a health threat to every person in this environment.

“And the traditional institution is also concerned and we are contacting one of two persons in government to make sure they come and arrest the situation on the ground.

“People are running out from here because of the fire. They cannot stay there. So we are calling on the NNPC and other government agencies to come to our aid.

“It has affected every area because some fishes in the water are dying, there’s no way we’ll go and pick our periwinkles again. Our mangroves are dying and all the rest. We want urgent government intervention to stop this thing.”

When contacted, the spokesman for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko said the spill was from a faulty valve, saying, “We have alerted relevant government agencies on the development.”