Over ten Ijaw communities along the Escravos river in Warri South West Local
Government Area of Delta State have been allegedly ravaged by crude oil
spill.
The spillage occurred at the NNPC/PPMC truck-line which passes through the
communities on the 17th day of August, 2016.
The affected communities on Wednesday told newsmen in Warri that instead
of PPMC to carry out a proper Joint Investigation team comprising of
community, company and government representatives, PPMC allegedly brought
in military men to chase away villagers without carrying out a proper JIV
to identify and stop the source of the spill as well as carryout effective
remediation and compensate the affected communities and people.
In a Save Our Soul letter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to prevail on
NNPC/PPMC over the oil spill, the communities lamented that up to the
moment, NNPC and PPMC, owners of the facility have not taken steps to stop
the continuous spillage and the consequent damage to fishing nets,
properties and the environment.
The affected communities included; Tebujor/Okpele-Ama, Ikpokpo,
Okerenkoko-Gbene, Opuedebubor, Opuede, Opuendezion, Atanba, Oto-Gbene,
Meke-Ama Communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom along the Escravos river in
Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to the letter 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 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.
Expressing displeasure over the nonchalant attitude of the oil firm to
tackle the incident, the communities in the letter are calling on Governor
Okowa to prevail on PPMC to carryout a proper JIV, stop further spill,
take remediation steps and compensation of the affected people and
communities.
In the interim, they are asking the corporation to send relief materials
to the villagers to cushion the immediate effect of the spillage on the
people to save them from starvation.