Following an oil spill in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, over 300 fisherman have been stranded, and farmlands have been devastated.
Residents said that the spill originated from a manifold owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company, polluting the Okuru River, which runs through the Eleme LGA towns of Aleto, Akpajo, Agbonchia, and Ogale.
They bemoaned the fact that the river provides a significant portion of the 300 registered fisherman in the region with a living.
They claimed that the leak had been seeping into the river unchecked since last Sunday, when it was initially discovered.
They also stated that some residents have already left their towns due to the spill’s offensive odour.
The fisherman expressed fury at the loss of their livelihood and claimed it made it impossible for them to support their families.
A fisherman, who gave his name only as as Wuwu, said, “On Monday I came to check my net, but I saw that the river was ‘black’ and spoiled. I couldn’t even find my net.
“There were no fishes because the water is polluted. I don’t know where to start because this is the only thing I have been doing to take care of my family.
“If there is anything the company can do to help us, let it be done immediately. But they should clean this place first.”
Preliminary investigations led Eleme LGA Chairman Obari-Ollormate Ollor, who visited the spill site, to conclude that equipment failure was to blame for the tragedy.
Ollor said the people would wait for Shell to inspect the plant so that the Eleme people wouldn’t be accused of sabotage, even as he urged the youths to remain calm. Ollor also accused Shell of being insensitive since the event occurred.
“We have discussed this on the telephone with the people who are managers of their pipeline at Shell. They are not here yet. However, when they come for this visit, it is determined by them. We will look at it together and agree on a document that says this is what has happened here. Our people are aggrieved as I speak to you.
“The youths are angry. Those who would have had cones for fishing today are all stranded. They don’t have anything to do; you can see they are all hanging around because fishing is what they do to survive.”
While reacting, a spokesman for SPDC, Michael Adande, said the cause of the spill had not been ascertained.
