Metro

Rivers: Oil Spill Causes Palpable Panic Amidst Environmental, Livelihoods Concerns

Published

10 months ago

December 20, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Residents of communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have been thrown into palpable panic following a recent oil spill that spread all over their shoreline.

Stakeholders who visited the affected areas along the Oyorokoto/Agbama/Imo River, were told by community sources that the spill was suspected to be from an SPDC facility in Bonny Island – “spreading to the Oyorokoto/Agbama/Imo River and thereby impacting communities.”

During the visit, stakeholders comprising representatives from Andoni Host and
Impacted Communities Bureau, the National Youth Council of Nigeria
Andoni, amongst others, were told by another source that Another source that the spill emanated from a pipeline rupture at a Shell loading terminal in Bonny.

They lamented their experience of the magnitude of
the spill, and the immediate impacts they witnessed.

They noted that the oil spill has damaged fishing nets, boats, and other equipment, rendering them unusable.

According to them, the oil spill has contaminated the
waterways, making it impossible for fishermen to engage in their daily
livelihood.

The oil spill has caused significant environmental damage,
including the destruction of mangroves, fish habitats, and other marine life,” they lamented.

They urged the polluting company to quickly contain the spill to avoid
further destruction.

The stakeholders also urged the company to carry out cleanup and remediation as well as provide adequate compensation to the impacted community people.

It was gathered that the spill was huge as its impact is already felt over 40km from the incident site, and there are indications that due to wave action, the
spill will spread to other communities along that coastline.

Reacting to the incident, Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, Health of Mother Erath Foundation (HOMEF), lamented that “these frequent spills are the harsh realities of community
folks in the Niger Delta and in many cases, nothing is done as the
communities are left to suffer. “

“Most of the pipelines that crisscross
the Niger Delta are as old as when commercial export of crude oil
started in Nigeria and a lot of these spills are coming from these old
pipelines and in some other cases, equipment failure.

“We call on all relevant agencies to beam their search light on these oil
companies to ensure that justice is served,” he concluded.

Recall that a similar spill occurred in Shell’s Trans Niger Pipeline line III on May 11, 2024, in the Asarama community, the same Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State – polluting and contaminating the environment as well as fishing gear and destroying their means of livelihood.

Metro

Police Impound Vehicle With 387 Blocks Of Cannabis In Bauchi

Published

9 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state Police Command says it has impounded a vehicle with nothing less than 387 blocks of suspected cannabis sativa after involving in an auto crash in the state.

Sani Omolori-Aliyu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi state Command.

According to him, the car and one other had a head-on collision in Wom village of Toro Local Government Area of the state on October 4, 2025 at about 11:30am.

“Initial reports from eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations indicate that the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was operated by one Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

“He was transporting the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Suleiman, aged 65, along with his family members as they travelled from Bauchi Metropolis to Nabardo Village.

“The second vehicle, another white Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an individual yet to be identified, who was travelling from Jos, Plateau State, towards Bauchi.

“It was reported that this driver attempted to overtake other vehicles without exercising adequate caution, resulting in a head-on collision with the first vehicle,” he said.

The Commissioner further explained that the occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical care.

He said that the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment with other victims while some have been discharged.

Omolori-Aliyu also revealed that in the aftermath of the incident, during the search at the scene, the detectives recovered several items in the damaged vehicle which included the 387 blocks of suspected cannabis.

The Commissioner, who explained that the command was in pursuit of the unidentified driver to ensure accountability and prompt legal action, encouraged anyone with information regarding the driver’s identity to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“The police are committed to diligently pursuing leads to identify the principal suspect.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our community and urges the public to remain calm and cooperative throughout this process.

“We invite anyone with information that could aid in this investigation to contact us and we assure citizens that we are resolutely focused on ensuring justice is achieved,” he said.

While receiving the exhibits, Hussaini Umar, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA, appreciated the police for the cooperation and synergy and promised to work hand in hand to ensure that the driver and the owner were found.

Metro

Fake Revenue Agents Apprehended In Aba While Defrauding Residents

Published

13 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has apprehended four individuals impersonating as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for acts of extortion, intimidation, and illegal enforcement along the Port Harcourt Road axis of Aba and its environs.

They were nabbed on Thursday at Flyover junction around Ugwunagbo area through an operation authorized by the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu.

A statement issued by Miracle Chukwunenye, spokesperson of the Harmonized Task Force said that the agency received multiple complaints from market women, tricycle (Keke) operators, and traders about the unlawful activities of a group led by one Mr. Ahuama.

‎”Upon arrival, the Taskforce, in joint effort with the police, arrested Mr. Ahuama and three accomplices who were caught extorting money from unsuspecting traders and tricycle operators under the false pretense of being NURTW officials.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects had already impounded about twenty (20) tricycles earlier that morning and collected money from the owners before being intercepted,” Chukwunenye said.

‎He added that during the operation, the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Taskforce operatives and police officers, but they were eventually subdued and are now in custody.

Chukwunenye sensitized traders and transporters that Abia State operates a strict No-Cash-at-Hand revenue system, and as such, no government-authorized personnel is permitted to collect cash from citizens.