Oil spill destroys farmlands in Rivers community
A recent oil spill has wreaked havoc in the Rumuoduwere community, located in the Elelenwo clan of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State. The spill, which took place on Sunday, is believed to have originated from a Shell Petroleum Development Company facility. It has resulted in the destruction of farmland and boreholes, prompting many residents to flee the affected area.
Martin Enwuka, a prominent community leader, expressed strong discontent with Shell following an inspection of the spill site on Monday. Enwuka criticized Shell for its ongoing neglect, highlighting the severe impact of the spill on the community. He noted, “Since Shell began operations in Rumuoduwere in 1957, there has been no visible benefit to our community. Shell’s presence here has been marked by consistent oil spills over the past three years.”
Enwuka lamented that despite Shell’s continued operations, the company has failed to address the community’s concerns. “Whenever Shell comes to repair its pipelines, they do so without involving the paramount ruler or the local community members. This disregard has left our boreholes unusable and our underground water contaminated,” he said.
He further explained, “People have to constantly drill new boreholes because of Shell’s activities. It’s a continuous cycle—today you drill 150 meters, tomorrow you need to go deeper. This situation shows that Shell is indifferent to our plight.”
Enwuka has called on both the state and federal governments to pressure Shell into taking responsibility for the damage caused. He urged the authorities to ensure that Shell halts its oil spills and compensates the affected community. “We appeal to the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government to take action against Shell. Our farmlands are ruined, and we can no longer farm in those areas. The company is destroying our water sources and land without any form of compensation or acknowledgment of our suffering,” he stated.
He concluded with a stern warning to Shell, “We demand that Shell stop polluting our lands and waters. Their lack of engagement with us and their failure to address the damage they’ve caused is unacceptable. We expect them to stop their destructive activities immediately and take responsibility for their actions.”
