Metro

Pollution: Impacted Niger Delta Communities Pay Save Our Souls Visit to FIDA, CSOs

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

Residents of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, who were majorly women, on Thursday, called on critical stakeholders to join in the forces against incessant pollution and violation of their fundamental rights by oil multinationals.

The residents from Odimodi, Focadus in Delta State travelled to Benin to join the Gelegbene community, Edo State in a meeting with the International Federal of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Civil Society Organisations, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Community Development Foundation (CODAF).

These riverine communities appealed to the environmental activists and women lawyers to intervene and stop pollution of their environment, as well as marginalisation and supersession due to the operations of the oil multinationals.

Narrating the ordeal of the community at the gathering themed “Niger Delta Legal and Strategic Meeting for Fisher Folks”, facilitated by the CODAF in collaboration with ERA/FoEN, Mrs. Mary Fedigha from Gelegbene lamented that since Dubri Oil company began operations in the local, the environment had been seriously impacted.

She expressed dismay that the fishes, the residents used to catch before were no more.

“Since the oil company started operations in the Gelegbene community, we have been suffering. Before the oil company came, when we went to the river, we caught fish at ease and used it as trade by Barter in our neighbouring communities for goods.

“But since the oil company came, this is very difficult. You will tour from morning till evening yet you will not catch anything. You need to go several miles in search of fish before you catch a few,” she decried.

Fedigha also identified gas flaring in the middle of the community as another dangerous experience that they were exposed to in the community.

“All the buildings around the gas flare are in danger; the heat there is unbearable.

“Despite being an oil producing community, Gelegbene has no potable water, no hospital, no road. We are benefiting nothing from the oil company,” she said.

Sharing a similar sentiment, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Fred Obi from Odimodi community in Delta State, related how he incurred loss due to pollution arising from the pollution in the area.

“I have a fishing yard and fish pond. I had my fishing pond at the bank of the river where I had different species of fishes, but when the river overflows it banks, it took away the fishes, so I moved to the upland to sink borehole and continue with my fishing ponds, but due to the pollution all my fishes died.

“What we are passing through is like hell on earth in Odimodi community,” he said.

Also Juliet Egbele, from Odimodi community, called the attention of the activists to an impending danger as a result of Trans-Raymond pipeline, whose lifespan, she said had elapsed.

“There is a pipeline running through the town, called Trans-Raymond; it is a 42 inch transparent pipeline.

“They said the pipe has only a 20 year lifespan; when the pipeline was over 25 years; we wrote to them, but they didn’t respond.

“When it got to 30 years, the pipeline started giving problems. It bursted in 2018 on its own due to old age. This incident affected us a lot. it got to an extent that having easy breathing became an issue.

“We are dying, we breathe in hell, we are dying. They should come and do their clean up properly.

“Though Shell paid the community in 2018 for impact made, they refused to pay individuals for their claims.

“There is an opposite fishing camp called Beinmogbene community, due to pollution, women cannot fish there anymore.

“The women have complained but to no avail. The place has an offensive odour that no one can go near there anymore.

“This is a pollution that was discovered since the 1960s, but till now nothing has been done.

“We are appealing to all human rights activists to help us. We can be a host community, without being sick.

“We are battling with sickness as a host community,” she lamented.

On his part, a former Publication Relations Officer, Odimodi community, Mr. Godwin Awese said, “despite the fact that we are oil producing community, none of our children are taken to abroad for study, but their children and their representatives are taken to abroad for study and after graduation employed into the office.

“Whenever we want to protest, they use the military to intimidate us, and even kill some of us.

“Whenever an oil spill occurs and we hear about it, they deny us access to take photographs by intimidating us. And sometimes, they even pour chemicals on such spillage to wipe it before we get there.”

Also lending his voice, Mr. Romeo Ekpoteme from Focadus community, Delta State, said “Shell operation started at Focadus river over 60 years ago, but the community remained the same.

“Anytime it rains, the crude oil gushes out. The heat in Focadus despite being a riverine community is unbearable.

“This is because the Ozone layer has been destroyed by activities of oil companies. Crops can no longer grow well.”

Responding, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Barr. Chima Williams stressed the need for synergy, promising that his organisation wouldl give every necessary support to make sure justice is served to the oil producing community.

He added that he was passionate about their conditions.

On her part, FIDA Chairperson in Edo State, Violet Olumese, said “We are very must aware of your plights and we are passionate in giving the necessary support.”

Earlier, Mr. Benin Richard, Executive Director, CODAF, said the things he saw when he visited Odimodi community were “devastating and very difficult to comprehend.

He appealed to FIDA to add the environmental components to their work.

Contacted, a representative of Dubri Oil Company who does not want her name in print said: said: “I want you to go there and see for yourself, seeing is believing. As I speak with you, we pump water to the community every morning. We provide 12 hours light to them every day.”

On Dubri Oil Gas Flow Station sited in the middle of the community, she noted “I want to tell you that the houses met it there. The Flow Station was sited there by Philip Oil company in the early 70s. The company opened the place up, and the people started building around the flow station. And when Dubri bought the company, the Flow Station was retained there because we can’t move it.”

But when INFO DAILY contacted one of Shell Oil Company Community Liaison Officer (CLO), Mr. James Abule, he said he has been off from work for three months hence he can’t comment.

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Metro

Panic In Delta Female School Over False Herdsmen Attack

Published

13 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Fear gripped Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Monday, as students of Otagba-Ogbe Girls Secondary School fled their classrooms following fears of an alleged herdsmen attack.

The panic reportedly began when students sighted two herdsmen entering the school premises from the rear, prompting a stampede as they ran out of their classrooms, triggering widespread alarm across the community.

A community source said the fear was rooted in earlier rumours circulating over the weekend that herdsmen were seen around the school’s surroundings.

“Everyone is on alert. The truth is that there were rumours that some herdsmen were spotted near the school on Saturday,”

The source said. “Today, as they were learning, two herdsmen entered the school compound from the back.
“Whether they were looking for their cattle, I don’t know.

“There had been information that an attack could happen at any moment due to issues between the herdsmen and the host community.”

The situation quickly escalated as parents trooped to the school to retrieve their children, and online platforms amplified claims of an imminent attack and alleged gunshots — none of which were verified.

But in a swift response, the Delta State Police Command dismissed it as false and misleading, saying it is capable of inciting unnecessary chaos.

According to the Command, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered a coordinated security response.

The Command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe said the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Kwale Division, SP Udofia Kufre, led a patrol team to the school for on-the-ground verification.

“Interviews with the Vice Principal and the security guard on duty confirmed that no attack occurred. Police said the entire disturbance was triggered by misinformation and students’ fear.

“As part of precautionary checks, adjoining schools in the Kwale axis were also visited by security operatives, who found them calm, safe, and fully engaged in normal academic activities.”

“Parents who rushed to the school were urged to remain calm as authorities confirmed that stability had been restored.”

Metro

Bandits Claim Kebbi, Niger Abductions, Vow More Attacks On Soldiers, Politicians [VIDEO]

Published

14 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

An armed terrorist group has released a new video claiming responsibility for the recent student abductions in Kebbi and Niger states, while threatening further attacks on soldiers and political office holders.

The video, which emerged on Monday and has since been circulating on social media, shows an armed man, speaking in Hausa, boasting that the group would soon begin targeting military personnel and politicians, insisting that the government “cannot stop” their operations.

The footage, which shows the individual surrounded by other armed men, has generated widespread speculation online, with citizens questioning the boldness and growing confidence of the terrorists.

The threatening video emerged just a week after the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, and the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, where over 300 students and 12 teachers were seized.

The video has intensified public anxiety as communities across the North continue to grapple with escalating attacks by bandits and other armed groups.

Security analysts say the video reflects the deteriorating security landscape and the increasing audacity of terrorists who operate with minimal deterrence.

In comments on X in reaction to the video, many Nigerians expressed outrage and frustration over the country’s worsening insecurity.

“This kind of boast shouldn’t even be possible in a functioning country. How did we get here?” @TaraBlinz said.

Another user, @justkency, stated, “The current state of Nigeria. Criminals are now emboldened enough to issue statements.”

Also reacting, @n95ly wrote, “Government officials should be the ones facing this. Leave innocent citizens out of it.”

Watch video here

Metro

38 Abducted Kwara Church Worshippers Regain Freedom

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2025

Editor

All the 38 persons recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government of Kwara have regained freedom.

The state government, through the office of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, disclosed this on Sunday.

The statement said the release followed many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives.

Ajakaye said, “The governor says this is wholly due to the hands-on approach of President Bola Tinubu, who has personally led the efforts to free the abductees.”

He recalled that the president had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States.

“He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole,” he added.

He, however, conveyed the governor’s appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Nigeria Police, which he said have graciously deployed four new tactical teams on the directive of the President.

“The governor also thanks members of the security forces across board, thought leaders, religious institutions, and all Kwarans for their support and goodwill since the unfortunate incident,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, which was attacked last Tuesday by bandits who killed three, kidnapped 38 and wounded many, on Sunday held its first service since the deadly attack.

The Sunday church service was held amidst a heavy security presence in and around the premises.

Journalists observed heavy deployment of security operatives across Eruku, including soldiers, the Special Tactical Squad from Force Headquarters, SWAT, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kwara Police Command, and local vigilantes.

The deployment was said to have been the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who mandated joint operations to track the attackers and rescue the victims.

Meanwhile, the service, conducted inside the blood-stained auditorium where the attack occurred last Tuesday, was dominated by prayers for the release of the kidnapped worshippers and the repose of the deceased.

It was during the service that the church secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, hinted that the abductors had reduced the ransom money from N100 million per head to N20 million.

He also used the service to confirm that 38 persons were abducted, contrary to earlier figures of 60 circulating on social media.

According to him, the church initially compiled 35 names, but later, during a verification exercise, identified three additional non-members who were also kidnapped during the siege.

“Rumours that over 60 people were abducted are not true,” he told Sobi FM. “We have 38 people still in the bush. Three people died, and one is in the hospital receiving treatment. I have their names and phone numbers. We don’t want misinformation,” he clarified.

Agbabiaka further disclosed that the bandits initially demanded N100 million per victim, but the ransom was negotiated down to N20 million each before communication with the abductors broke off on Friday.

He added that despite fear and trauma, church leaders encouraged members to attend the service as a show of faith and resilience.

“As you can see, only a few people are present, but we thank God for life and for strengthening us. We also appreciate the government for deploying security operatives who are now patrolling the town and the church,” he told newsmen.

Earlier, the officiating pastor, Bamidele Lawrence, described the incident as a test of faith and revealed that he received divine assurances regarding the safety of the kidnapped.

He told the congregation that God promised the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their situation to the biblical trials of the Israelites.