Mkpoikana Udoma 13 October 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Twelve communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Council Area of Delta State, have called on the Federal Government to protect their right to life and clean environment, following a fresh oil spills in the area.
An oil spill had occurred in these same communities on August 17, this year from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which allegedly forced residents to abandon their homes for safety.
The affected communities confirmed the new oil spills in a statement signed by Mr. Yabrade Moses and Mr. Edward Odudu on on their behalf, saying the first of the new spills occurred on Thursday, September 29 from a ruptured trunkline operated by the NNPC.
Describing the spills as massive, the impacted communities which include Ikpokpo, Tebujor, Okpeleama, Meke-Ama, Opuedebubor, Atanba, Oporoza, Oto-Gbene, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Opuede, Opuede-Zion and Gama-Zion in Gbaramatu Kingdom, said the fresh oil spills has worsened their already devastated environment and created more panic among residents.
“The fears of the community people came to reality again in the early hours of Friday, the 30th of September, 2016 as crude oil was discovered to be gushing out from the ruptured trunkline when NNPC pumped crude oil through the trunk line from the morning of Thursday, the 29th of September, 2016 to Friday, 30th of September, 2016.
“At the time of issuing this press statement, there is massive spillage of crude oil which is already flowing around all the communities, including up to Oporoza federated communities, Gama-Zion community and into the Escravos River.
“This is the third time this spillage of crude oil into the affected communities is happening anytime crude oil is pumped through the trunk line,” the statement read.
The communities called on the NNPC to take steps to identify the ruptured point, stop further spillage and damage to the communities, and to provide relief materials to cushion the effect of the spillage on the people.