Metro

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

Published

1 year 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

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.