By Bliss Okperan
An energy firm, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, has confirmed an oil spill incident from its facilities at Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa on October 3, 2023.
A spokesperson for the SPDC, Mr Michael Adande, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that a joint investigative visit to the scene of the spill to unravel the cause and volume of oil discharged was underway.
According to NAN, the leak from the Diebu Creek Flow Station, operated by the SPDC in Peremabiri, discharged a yet-to-be-ascertained volume of crude oil to adjourning areas of the community and the Nun River.
“Several farmlands, including those with economic trees, as well as the marine environment, had been gravely impacted by the oil leak, which the community members believe was caused by equipment failure,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Mr Adande further said that the investigation was a statutory probe and it involved representatives of the operator, host community and regulatory agencies to generate a report to show cause.
“A government-led Joint Investigation Team is currently on a joint investigation visit to the site of the incident to determine the cause and the impact of the incident,” Mr Adande said.
The Deputy Woman Leader of Peremabiri Community, Mrs Favour Morgan, lamented the destruction the spill has caused to their fishing nets, traps, and crops polluted the whole aquatic environment, and demanded succour.
“We are helpless and in dire need of intervention by way of relief and succour to farmers and fishermen.
“This oil spill has thrown the Peremabiri people into despair. We are into farming and fishing as our means of livelihood and the toxic oil from Shell’s oil field has damaged our livelihood sources,” she stated.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka