Metro

Spill: Odimodi Community Decries Abandonment Of Broken Valve By Shell

Published

3 years ago

September 7, 2022

The people of Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have decried abandonment of leaking crude oil facility belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, lamenting that the spill posed grave danger to dwellers of the community.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the community, Amb. Dere Podoki, up till the date that the incident was documented by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN field monitors, Shell has not fixed the broken valve, although the company has shut down the line.

Recall that ERA/FoEN raised the alarm on September 1, 2022 over the devastation caused by toxic spills from Shell Petroleum Development Company facilities in Odimodi Community of Delta State.

According to ERA/FoEN, the spill which occurred mid-August has caused the death of hundreds of fish along the creek of the Odimodi Community among other environmental and health hazards posed to the community.

Commenting further, the Public Relations Officer said that a similar incident was confirmed to have happened in 2020 but the difference was that the wastewater and crude products spewed only on land but with much impact as well.

Podoki added ”Shell repaired its facility but failed to clean the environment and there was no compensation for the crops and other vegetation/economic trees destroyed.

“Shell is known to have demonstrated an unprofessional way of responding to spill in the Odimodi environment by cleaning only the spill point and ignoring affected areas by the spill. A practical example is the fact that the spillage that occurred in 2020 is still visible in affected places in Odimodi community even when Shell has been certified to have completed the cleanup process.

He also confirmed that it has been noticed that the regulators usually compromise their standards.

“The fishes found dead on the water that some community folks picked from different parts of the creek that they thought were because of natural death, we reported to have had bitter taste and offensive odour. Most of the people are afraid that their health will be badly affected.”

On his part, Fred Obi, a fish camp owner at Burrow Pit Creek in Odimodi Community, said when he retired in 2017, he used all of his retirement benefits to invest in fish farming by establishing fish ponds on the shore and off the shore but when the 2018 pollution struck, all the fishes he had all died and none was left.

He said “At a time I relied on the life of mangrove fish ponds (deep pit by the mangrove that retains water and fish during low and high tides). It became unproductive as a result of the spill. All the fishes I imported and stocked all died because of the pollution. At the moment, the 2018 spill is still visible in the creek (the mound under the river is soaked in crude).

“Before the spill, I can easily catch a lot of Bonga fish and small fishes I also used as fish feed have all gone. My major demand is that Shell should restore the environment and compensate me for the loss because their spill swept away my retirement benefit.”

Metro

Police Foil Robbery Attacks On Anambra Roads, Recover Vehicles

Published

10 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command said it has repelled armed robbery attacks in Oba and Awka areas of the state, with two stolen vehicles earlier snatched by the robbery gang recovered.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the police patrols have continued to foil plans of criminals following the security and safety measures put in place by the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu.

Ikenga added that the swift response and coordinated chase by police operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Awka and police operatives attached to Oba Division, led to the recovery of the snatched vehicles from the criminals at different operations.

The statement read in part, “Police operatives have recovered two abandoned, but suspected snatched vehicles in Oba and Awka, respectively. Efforts are, however, ongoing to apprehend the culprits.

“The swift response and coordinated chase by Police Operatives attached to the Central Police Station, Awka, led to the recovery of a snatched Lexus ES 350 car with registration number Lagos – BDG 350 JR, along Parkers Road, Awka, on September 4, 2025, at about 10.10 pm.

“Four armed men, operating in a tricycle without a registration number, had earlier blocked the victim along Ifite Road, Amaenyi, forcing him to abandon his vehicle before they fled the scene with it.

“Similarly, in the early hours of September 5, 2025, police operatives attached to Oba Division received information that a black Lexus RX 300 Jeep with registration number Anambra – AWK 31 DU, had been abandoned by yet-to-be-identified persons around Mummy Hotel axis, along Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, Oba.

“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives moved swiftly to the location and recovered the vehicle, which has since been towed to the station for safekeeping.

“To this end, the command appreciates the good people of Anambra for their timely and useful information, noting that effective collaboration between the Police and the public remains a key strategy in combating crime.”

Metro

Gunmen Kill NSCDC Personnel In Edo, Abduct Expatriate

Published

11 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed eight personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) attached to the BUA Cement Factory located in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The gunmen also abducted one of the Chinese expatriates, and injured four persons.

An officer of the agency who disclosed this to journalists in Benin on Saturday on the condition of anonymity, said the persons injured were currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

According to him, four Chinese expatriates were rescued unhurt.

He said the incident happened at the company’s entrance, on Friday, September 5, 2025, at about 10PM, when the officers were escorting five Chinese expatriates after a routine patrol at the company’s entrance.

He said: “The suspected kidnappers, armed with sophisticated weapons, ambushed the NSCDC personnel attached to BUA Cement Company, Okpella, Etsako East LGA, Edo State.

“The attackers laid an ambush at the company’s entrance. They opened fire sporadically, engaging NSCDC operatives in a gun duel. Despite the loss of personnel, NSCDC operatives successfully rescued four expatriates.

“The armed group escaped into the bush with one abducted expatriate.

“The surviving NSCDC personnel repelled further assault and secured four expatriates safely.

“The injured officers were evacuated and are receiving medical care,”

The officer said that the Edo State Commandant of the agency, Agun Gbenga, had visited the scene of the crime and the hospital where the injured are being treated.

He also disclosed that joint security operations with sister agencies have commenced, combing the surrounding forest in pursuit of the perpetrators.

“As I speak with you, our personnel and other security agencies are combing the bush through which the kidnappers escaped. We are making every effort to ensure that the abducted expatriate is freed unhurt and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he noted.

Metro

New Edo Line Passengers Abducted

Published

11 hours ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

Now fewer than 18 passengers of the New Edo Line and Toyota Corolla car were on Friday reported abducted.

The victims, said to be Abuja bound passengers, were forced into the bush by the kidnappers before men of the Nigerian Police Force arrived the scene

A viral video from the scene of the incident showed a long queue of vehicles parked on both sides of the express road.

Contacted, Edo tate Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Iyamu confirmed, the incident, stressing that sixteen of the victims have been rescued so far.

He noted that police have intensified search in collaboration with local vigilante and hunters to ensure the release of the other passengers in the kidnappers’ den.