Oil spill in Jesse raises fear of massacre

Seventeen years after the Jesse town in Delta State was ravaged by an oil spill-induced explosion that killed hundreds of people, the community and others around it are on the brink of another major disaster.
The community has raised the alarm over another oil spill that may recreate the horrible experience they try to forget, as local vigilantes from the area, on Friday noticed the spill.
President General of Jesse community, Chief Austin Omonode, who attributed the spill to a ruptured pipeline passing through the community said: “We can’t really tell the content of the spill but I think it’s a mixture of oil which has affected aquatic life and other farm produce in Jesse town, Atiwhor, Ugbomoya, Ajakatite and other surrounding communities.
“As I talk to you now, (Sunday), we are yet to see any official from the relevant various governmental agencies or companies visiting the sites of the spill to curtail or monitor the extent of damages done so far.”
Contacted, External Relations Officer for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, Mr. Ugo Atugboko stated that it was the purview of SEPLAT, which is in charge of crude oil pipeline in the area.
Attempts to reach SEPLAT’s General Manager, External Affairs and Communication, Mrs. Chioma Nwachukwu were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

Read also: Buhari adopts UNEF report to clean-up Ogoniland

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