A major crude oil spill has rocked B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State following the eruption of the Trans Niger Pipeline on May 6. The incident, reportedly caused by equipment failure, has flooded homes and farmlands with crude, leaving residents displaced and fearing for their health and safety.
The latest spill comes less than two months after a similar pipeline explosion ignited a fire in Bodo community on March 17, raising concerns over the risks associated with the federal government’s proposed resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland.
During a joint visit to the affected area by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and other civil society organisations, community members expressed deep anguish and a sense of abandonment.
“The crude oil flowed right into our homes,” said Chief Mrs. Augustina Biebie, the community’s woman leader. “The smell is overwhelming. People are struggling to breathe, and many cannot cook because of the risk of fire. The restlessness here is rising.”
Pastor Kpobari Bani, whose house was also impacted, described how the disaster forced his elderly mother to flee. “We’re calling on Renaissance Oil, which now owns the pipeline after Shell’s reported divestment, to stop the spill. The government must step in with immediate relief and clean-up.”
Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, decried the slow response by authorities and oil companies, calling the situation a “disaster zone.”
“This spill has gone unattended for over a week,” Bassey said. “It is unconscionable that such a catastrophe is met with silence and delay. The government must abandon plans to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland and instead focus on decommissioning aging infrastructure and prioritizing environmental cleanup.”
Bassey called on regulatory bodies including NOSDRA, NESREA, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and HYPREP to act swiftly to halt the spill and launch emergency remediation and health assessments in the community.
Environmental activist Celestine Akpobari echoed the alarm, saying, “This is why we’ve opposed the resumption of oil exploitation in Ogoniland. What should be a remediation site has turned into an ecological crime scene. If not contained, this disaster could spiral further.”
HOMEF and allied CSOs are demanding urgent measures to:
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Plug the ongoing leakage
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Clean and remediate the affected land
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Conduct a comprehensive health audit of exposed residents
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Hold operators accountable for the damage caused
The incident underscores mounting fears that without urgent reforms and accountability, the region remains vulnerable to further ecological and humanitarian crises.
