By Peter Adelowo
An Underwater Oil Spill from a Pipeline operated by a multinational company along the Obololi River in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State is devastating the Obololi community and its environs.
Community members who say the Spill which is suspected to have been caused by equipment failure from a facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, was first noticed between late last Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Locals say the river which is their only source of drinking water and farmlands have been polluted, calling for immediate clean up, provision of relief materials, water and fish to ameliorate their suffering.
A visit to the point of spill indicates that crude oil is bubbling out from underneath the river from where there seems to be corrosion of the pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company while some children could be seen having their bath in the polluted water.
An elderly woman, Comfort Simeon who spoke through an interpreter and Florence Clarkson say they are starving and dying of thirst as well as having breathing difficulty as a result of the devastating impacts of the spill to the river and farmlands.
Other natives such as Comfort Payofaghe and Akpoboloukemi Cletus say some of the children in the community are already having health issues as a result of being exposed to the spill.
Chairman of the Obololi Community Development Committee, Goodnews Okoi said at least four persons including two children and two women were already suffering from health issues such as diarrhea and severe itching having been exposed to the crude oil polluted waters, appealing for provision of water, food and other relief materials.
The Environmental Defenders Network through its Deputy Executive Director, Chief Alagoa Morris called for an urgent Joint Investigation Visit, while urging the SPDC for proper clean up, remediation of the polluted areas and provision of relief materials to the people.
Chief Morris who is the Technical Assistant to the Governor on the Environment also enjoined government to act on and implement the recently released report of the Bayelsa Oil and Environment Commission while charging regulatory agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and the State and Federal Ministry of Environment as well as Ministry of Mineral Resources to ensure environmental justice for communities.
Natives of the Obololi community say operators of the facility, the SPDC have only placed booms to contain the spread of the spill.
Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Target Segibo who visited the Obololi community for an on-the spot assessment frowned at the harmful impact of the oil spill, gave an assurance that the Council would urgently provide alternative water supply to the area to alleviate their sufferings, calling on the people to avoid drinking and cooking from water from the creek to avoid water-borne diseases.
The Deputy paramount ruler of Obololi, Chief Wilfred Kueke noted that the community had suffered pollution of the environment since the SPDC began operations in the area in 1973 without enjoying provisions of social amenities including healthcare services, water as well as cordial Community-Company relationship.
