Residents of Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State fled their community on Wednesday after a massive oil spill from a wellhead at Oil Mining Lease-15, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), ignited a fire. The spill, which has affected Buguma and neighboring Degema Local Government Area, has been raging for three days, spreading through waterways and causing significant environmental damage.
The fire has killed aquatic life, including fish and periwinkles, and devastated mangroves, leaving the community in crisis. Despite the severity of the situation, community members reported that neither government agencies nor the operators of the manifold have visited the site to address the disaster.
Livingstone Membere, President of the Kalabari Youth Federation, criticized the inaction of the company operating the facility. “No company or government agency has intervened to stop the spill. The fire has persisted for four days, releasing hazardous gas into our environment. We demand immediate action to extinguish the fire, clean up the area, and compensate affected residents,” he said.
Another youth leader, Taribo Horsefall, revealed that the fire started due to a spark caused by oil siphoning activities. “The company brought a badge to extract oil from the ground. There was a spark, and that’s how the fire began,” he explained.
A community chief, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over the lack of response. “We have contacted the authorities for days, but no action has been taken. This is a major health threat. People are fleeing the community because of the fire, and aquatic life is dying. We need urgent intervention from NNPC and relevant agencies to resolve this disaster,” the chief said.
When contacted, state police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko attributed the spill to a faulty valve and confirmed that relevant government agencies had been alerted.
