Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has confirmed oil spilled from its facility at Agbura-Otuokpoti area of Yenagoa, the state capital, but alleged it was an act of sabotage.
“At about 8.30am on March 31, a community surveillance vendor reported a leak on the company’s Joint Venture pipeline at Nun River in Bayelsa. Following the development, the facility was shut down and full isolation established at 09.45am”, he told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, in Yenagoa.
“The SPDC Oil Spill Response Team was mobilised to the spill site and was able to contain the spill to prevent further spread. The Joint Investigation Visit team led by government regulator will determine the cause and impact of the spill”, Odugbesan said, adding, “There was an anonymous note found at the spill site, suggesting sabotage”.
Residents, who said the oil workers had yet to come to the site as at Friday, have resorted to scooping oil from water surface into drums.
Daniel Ebitimi, who claimed that crude oil has curative effect on burns and skin diseases, said he collected some kegs, which he hoped to sell.
The predominantly fishing and farming settlements regretted that the leakage discharged large volumes of crude oil into the River, resulting in pollution of the waters.
Collins Jackson, an environmentalist, said the spill was discovered in the early hours of Wednesday, when the people noticed large volumes of crude floating on the river. He dismissed the company’s claim of prompt response and allegations of sabotage.
“The claim of an anonymous note suggesting sabotage is at best a fallacy because we visited the place immediately our people noticed oil on water and we did not see any note. Why will SPDC jump into conclusion when the investigation has not been concluded? The theory of sabotage is funny because the pipeline is corroded and has signs of loss of integrity due to age. Also, the site is close to the security outpost so the possibility of a vandal gaining access is very slim”.
Jackson said allegations of sabotage had led to a disagreement among the regulators, communities and state government officials on the joint investigation.
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