– Oil spill destroys nine communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom
– Many fishing nets, properties have been lost due to the oil spillage
There is tension in Delta state as nine communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West local government area have sent a save our soul message to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over the massive oil spillage wreaking havoc in their areas.
The nine communities are Tebujor/Okpele-Ama, Ikpokpo, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Opuedebubor, Opuede, Opuendezion, Atanba, Oto-Gbene, Meke-Ama Communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
READ ALSO: Army nabs suspected Niger Delta Avengers kingpin
Nine communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom have sent a save our soul message to Gov Okowa over massive oil spillage wreaking havoc in their areas.
It was gathered that the massive oil spillage occurred at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) truck-line which passes through the communities.
According to a letter made available to NAIJ.com, addressed to Governor Okowa dated September 6, 2016, and signed by Yebrade Moses, Godwin Akori, Ebilowei Tortor and Braye Fredrick on behalf of the affected communities, the spillage occurred on August 17 and has continued up to this moment.
The communities’ leaders also claimed that NNPC and PPMC, owners of the facility have not taken steps to stop the continuous spillage, which has continued to damage fishing nets, properties and the environment.
They claimed that the villagers who rely on fishing along the river for survival can longer do so as a result of the effects of the oil spillage which has polluted the entire area.
The community leaders also stated that oil spillages have occurred on the same PPMC truck-line due to equipment failure three times in the year 2016 in January, April and May.
They said that instead of PPMC to carry out a proper Joint Investigation team comprising of community, company and government representatives, the company brought in military men to chase away villagers without carrying out a proper examination and stop the source of the spill,
The communities therefore, call on Governor Okowa to prevail on PPMC to carry-out a proper investigation to stop further spill, take remediation steps and compensation of the affected people and communities.
READ ALSO: Militant group issues warning to Niger Delta Avengers
They added that relief materials should be provided to the villagers to cushion the immediate effect of the spillage on the people to save them from starvation.
The outcry in Gbaramatu Kingdom comes barely two months after there was a similar mayhem in Idheze community, Isoko South local government area, Delta state, following an oil spill from a major Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline.
According to eye witnesses, the spillage which started at 12 midnight resulted in a serious fire outbreak, destroying many farmlands and economic crops in the process.
Niger Delta Avengers have led a campaign of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the southern region since February 2016, reducing Nigeria’s oil production by hundreds of thousands of barrels and making international oil companies to briefly stop operations at different times.
But recently, the militant group announced its readiness to enter into negotiations with the government after several false starts.
The post Tension as oil spill destroys nine communities in Delta appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7.
via Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7 http://ift.tt/2bTiyMj
