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Bayelsa community raises alarm over Shell oil pollution

By on May 7, 2013

The people of Ikarama community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State have raised the alarm over oil spills that is currently affecting the Taylor Creek along the Biseni/JK4 Road.

DailyPost gathered that the company is aware of the pollution and its workers are already at the scene, using vacuum trucks near Shell’s well 2 in Biseni to suck up the oil from the waterways.

Residents say the incident is upsetting their major means of livelihood, accusing pipeline vandals of being responsible for the spillage.

Morris Alagoa, an environmental rights activist and Head of Bayelsa Office of Environmental Rights Action, an NGO, said that the source could either be from Agip or Shell as the two firms have operations in the area.

“Field monitors of Environmental Rights ACTION/Friends of the Earth Nigeria [ERA/FoEN] were informed of a spreading crude oil slick on the Taylor Creek.

“The information had it that the oil slick was sighted at Ikarama community in Okordia clan and that it was suspected to be coming from either JK4 in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers, owned by Shell or from Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa, operated by Agip.”

However, Moses Onyah, an indigene of the area, said on Monday that the spill, which must have emanated from Shell oil fields in the area, started on April 28.

“We heard of the spill on Sunday (April 28). But the spill must have occurred in the night of April 27. If not for the spraying into the air that attracted passersby, we wouldn’t have known in time.

“SPDC came to stop/clamp the ruptured point on April 30. As per the cause of spill, we are not sure; but SPDC claimed it was sabotage.

“The crude oil flowed into the water channel and down it goes into the Taylor Creek. The Taylor Creek is not far from here; if people say they saw crude oil spreading to their community, it may be from here,” Onyah said.

In the meantime, Precious Okolobo, a Shell spokesman, has declined to provide further details.

The oil rich South-south region accounts for about 90 per cent of the country’s total earnings.

However, militancy and oil vandalism. have caused a major setback over the years, especially the era of unrest championed by youth in the region.