… as Community blames spill on sabotage

By: Ovedhe Jerry

The Oil producing Community of Idheze in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State was yesterday hit by a massive oil spill from one of the pipelines belonging to Agip leaving residents moving out of their homes for fear of fire outbreak.

The scene of the spill at Idheze community in Delta state.

The cause of the spill is yet to be ascertained, but the community people blamed the spill on alleged saboteurs.

The spill, according to our correspondent,  has spread across farmlands and streams around the community leaving behind environmental degradation which will affect the community in years to come if not cleaned.

The people of Idheze community have therefore called on relevant authorities to come to the aid of the community and effect the immediate clean up process.

According to some residents of the area, the Community Chairman came to wake them up at about 3.00am for safety purpose when he noticed the spill.

The chairman of the community, Mr. Samson Aseme, told our correspondent that he had already contacted the surveillance department in Port – Harcourt to pass the message before also contacting the Local Government Chairman.

Mr. Aseme, however averred that, the incident was subject to investigation as what actually led to the spillage cannot be ascertained.

He said, “I have to come to the point at about 03:00am to wake people living within the vicinity for safety purpose thereafter, I contacted the surveillance department in Port – Harcourt to pass the message while I also contacted the Local Government Chairman”.

In a swift response by Agip, the FS 1 in charge of Irri Flow Station who visited the place however, cautioned inhabitants to be cautious of fire usage to avoid fire disaster referring to the burst as manmade, adding that, the pipeline was under close watch to ensure safety.

Meanwhile some reliable source from the community who craved anonymity that spoke with our correspondent from the community have disclosed that, the leadership of the community formally wrote to Agip on how to give the pipeline surveillance contract to indigenous contractor in which the change was to be affected this month of June.

They added that what has happened now could be coming from the previous contractor and his cohorts to sabotage the effort of Idheze Community never to succeed in getting the contract.

Residents of the community have started  bemoaning the long term effect of environmental hazard the spill will cause, as their crops and soil has been seriously affected, calling on Agip to do a cleanup exercise of the environment as soon as possible.