There is tension in Delta state as several communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West local government area have cried out over the massive oil spillage wreaking havoc in their areas.
In a statement made available to NAIJ.com, Ikpokpo, Tebujor, Okpeleama, Meke-Ama, Opuedebubor, Atanba, Oporoza federated communities, Oto-Gbene, Okerenkoko-Gbene, Opuede, Opuede-Zion, Gama-Zion communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom, affected by the spillage from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) to Warri trunk line which occurred on August 17, 2016, once again cried out to the management of companies and NOSDRA to save them from the effect of a new spillage from the same trunk line.
According to the statement signed by Yebrade Moses, the communities stated that the Group Managing Director of the PPMC/NNPC together with NOSDRA and community representatives went for the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) on Monday, the September 26.
However, the JIV was inconclusive as the team could not visit most of the communities affected and could not identify the point of rupture.
It was gathered that the spillers, PPMC/NNPC promised to carry out a follow up JIV and also take steps to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
The communities on that occasion expressed their apprehension that they may suffer again if crude is pumped through the line and agreed with PPMC officials that crude oil should not be pumped through the line again until the ruptured point is identified and repaired.
However, the fears of the community people came to reality again in the early hours of Friday, September 30, as crude oil was discovered to be gushing out from the ruptured trunk line when NNPC pumped crude oil through the trunk line from the morning of Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30.
At the time of filling this report, there is massive spillage of crude oil which is already flowing around all the communities including up to Oporoza federated communities, Gama-Zion community and into the Escravos River.
This is the third time this spillage of crude oil into the affected communities is happening anytime crude oil is pumped through the trunk line.
The statement added: “We once again call on NNPC/PPMC to take far reaching steps to identify ruptured point, stop further spillage and damage to the communities and properties and also provide relief materials to cushion effect of the spillage on our people.
“Our people are dying of hunger arising from the complete despoliation of their environment. NNPC/PPMC should stop pumping crude oil through the trunk line until the ruptured point is identified and repaired. We call on the Nigerian government to come to our rescue and protect our right to life and clean environment.”
