Anger As Over 300 Fishermen Are Sacked By Oil Spill In Rivers Community
The business climate is tense as a result of the oil leak in the Aleto community of the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, which left over 300 fishermen stranded and destroyed farmlands.
According to the victims, the river is a significant source of income for the 300 registered fishermen in the area.
They stated that the spill was discovered on Sunday and that no efforts have been made to stop it from spilling into the River ever since. They also stated that several residents had left their settlements due to the foul smell the spill had generated.
The fishermen were upset that their source of income had been lost because they can no longer provide for their families.
One of the victims simply identified as Wuwu said he has been fishing in the River for over ten years, saying, “On Monday I came to check my net, but I saw that the River was black and spoiled. I couldn’t even find my net.
His words: “There were no fish because the water is very bad (polluted). I don’t know where to start from because this is the only thing I have been doing to take care of my family.
“If there is anything the company (Shell) can do to help us let them do. But they should clean this place first.”
Another fisherman said, “Me and some of my brothers around 11am on Monday, when we came to check, we saw that the River was covered with crude oil. Our net and the boat we used in fishing have been damaged by the crude oil.”
Speaking to newsmen, a Surveillance Officer representing the Pipeline Infrastructure, Osaro Prosperous said the ordour from the spill poses a potential health hazard.
“As you are here now you are perceiving the smell of the petroleum products which is very hazardous to human health. We want this oil spill to stop immediately because this has been happening.
“A similar thing occurred here last year. Shell or the NNPC must take proper measure to stop this thing once and for all.”
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Obari-Ollormate Ollor who visited the site of the spill said preliminary observation showed that the incident was caused by equipment failure.
While accusing Shell of insensitivity since the incident occurred, Ollor said the people will await the oil giant to visit the facility so that the Eleme people are not accused of sabotage, even as he called for calm from the youths.
“We have discussed on the telephone with the people who are managers of their pipeline in Shell. They are not here yet. However when they come for this visit it is ascertained by them. We will look at it together and agree on a document that this is what has happened here. Our people are aggrieved as I speak to you.
“The youths are angry. Those who would have cones for fishing today are all stranded. They don’t have anything to do, you can see they are all hanging around because fishing is what they do to survive.”
Continuing, the LG chairman said “All the activities that go on around this River have been halted because of this pollution. It is a great loss and a bad day for the Eleme people.
“But as a government representative I will calm frayed nerves to make sure that everybody cooperates with the company because it was not a planned incident.”
When contacted, a spokesman of SPDC, Michael Adande said the cause of the spill had not been ascertained, saying, “AS we speak a Joint Investigation Visit to the area led by the government is on.
“Once that is ready, we will know what caused it and how to go from there.
