Leadership (Abuja)
Osa Okhomina
17 November 2008
Yenagoa — The people of Ikarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have lamented the damage to their environment by a spill from an oil pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company which occurred last Tuesday.
The spill, from the Adebawa (Joinkarama 4)-Okordia flow line, is said to be spewing high volume of crude oil into the Taylor Creek spreading to adjoining creeks and rivulets within the area.
So far, over six communities including Kalaba, Ayamabele, Agbobiri, Zarama-Epie, Zarama-Nyambiri and Joinkarama 4 have been seriously impacted by the spill.
The deputy leader of Ikarama Caretaker Committee, Chief Simeon Okah, described the oil spill as devastating, noting that it had destroyed aquatic lives as well as the ecosystem of the area.
Okah told newsmen that the people of Ikarama were now faced with health challenges arising from the oil spill.
"We see a lot of problems from oil spill. Our pregnant women even experience miscarriages and premature births. Some people develop swollen legs and some, mostly children, get feverish with cough and other respiratory diseases. Apart from the physical discomfort to victims, it also eats deep into the pockets of the families because they have to spend money for unexpected treatment", Okah said.
Okah, who maintained that the company had not executed any project for the community, denied that the oil spill was occasioned by sabotage by youths of the area and urged Shell to move fast to remedy the situation to avoid breakdown of epidemics in Ikarama and environs.
The caretaker chairman of Okordia/Zarama/Biseni Rural Development Centre, Mr. Jeremiah Ikah, who also confirmed the devastation, said the spill was everywhere "though effort is being made to stop the flow from the pipe and contain the spill.
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