A recent oil spill has resulted in the destruction of farmlands and boreholes in Rumuoduwere community located in Elelenwo clan, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The spill, reportedly from a Shell Petroleum Development Company facility, took place on Sunday, prompting community members to evacuate the affected area.
During a media briefing after inspecting the area on Monday, Martin Enwuka, a community opinion leader, criticized Shell for its prolonged negligence and expressed dismay over the spill’s adverse effects.
Enwuka stated, “Shell has been operating in Rumuoduwere community in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area since 1957. However, their presence in Rumuoduwere is almost non-existent. Oil spills have been occurring for the past three years without any significant action from Shell.”
“Whenever they attempt to repair the pipe, they ignore our community leaders and residents, leading to dissatisfaction. This spill has contaminated the underground water sources, rendering all our boreholes inoperable.
“People keep drilling boreholes, but due to Shell’s activities, the depth required keeps increasing. They show no concern for our well-being or the damage they cause,” Enwuka added.
Enwuka urged the state and federal governments to hold Shell accountable, stating, “We urge the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government to intervene and compel Shell to acknowledge its responsibility. Our farmlands are ruined, and we can no longer cultivate in that area.
“Our water sources are consistently polluted, and our land remains uncompensated for. They are indifferent to our suffering. They refuse to engage or offer solutions, causing further frustration,” Enwuka further expressed.
“This is our final warning to them: cease damaging our land and polluting our water sources, especially the groundwater. We demand respect and accountability,” he concluded.