Precious Anga
Lagos — Residents of Bille community in Rivers State are facing growing health concerns following persistent methane gas leaks that have contaminated drinking water sources and disrupted daily life in the area.
Amnesty International raised fresh alarm over the situation, saying methane gas has continued to bubble from rivers, swamps and community wells since October 2025, with little progress made to stop the leaks.
The group said some schoolchildren were relocated to neighbouring communities after reportedly falling ill and vomiting due to exposure linked to the gas leaks.
According to Amnesty International, fishermen first noticed unusual bubbling in mangrove swamps and rivers near the town, accompanied by strong sulphurous odours. Residents later discovered that air around some of the affected sites could ignite, increasing fears of a possible disaster.
The organisation noted that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission visited the community in April and directed oil companies operating nearby to investigate and address the problem, but residents say the leaks have persisted.
Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, described the situation as alarming, warning that the affected area appears to be expanding and poses serious risks to public health and the environment.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently identify the source of the leak, stop the contamination and protect residents from what he described as a potentially catastrophic incident.
The suspected leak locations are close to several oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta, including pipelines and oil wells previously operated by Shell before its divestment from onshore operations in Nigeria. However, authorities are yet to confirm the exact source of the methane emissions.
