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

Two Jailed For 26 Months Over N8.56bn Bank Cyber Fraud In Lagos

Published

8 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has convicted and sentenced two men; Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months imprisonment each for their involvement in an N8.56 billion fraud.

The duo were found guilty of gaining unauthorised access to the computer systems of a new-generation bank.

They were initially arraigned on May 2, 2025, alongside other suspects, on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Their charges bordered on conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful access to a computer system, offences contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.

Both defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty.

However, they changed their plea after the EFCC presented amended charges, enabling the court to convict and sentence them based on the updated information.

During the review of the case, EFCC counsel Muhammad Bashir called an operative of the Commission, Airende Monday, who presented documents that were admitted into evidence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi ruled:
“I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgment of the court.”

The court imposed eight months imprisonment on count one and one year and six months on count two.

The sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.

According to the EFCC, Zakaria, Ibrahim and others still at large conspired in January 2025 to illegally access and manipulate Wema Bank’s computer systems and servers, transferring and retaining criminal proceeds derived from the breach.

Metro

Police Arrest Suspected Organ Harvester, Rescue Four Victims

Published

11 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

A notorious organ harvest suspect is in police custody over an attempt to buy the kidneys of four victims in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Confirming the development in a press conference yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro, said the suspect, Mr Maro Ebojoh, 40, was arrested by officials of Yahaya Sabo Motor Park, Bukan Sidi in Lafia while perfecting his plans to harvest organs of his targets.

The CP said Nasarawa police operatives deployed to the area arrested him and further investigation revealed that Umar Barau, 25, Suleman Alhaji-Garba, 20, Williams Dadung, 32, and Stanley Ezekiel 27, were lured with promise to receive N2 million each after the deal is sealed.
He said the four victims were sent to a hospital in Abuja to be screened for fitness for the removal of their kidneys.

“The command detailed operatives to the facility where the organ harvest was to take place. On arrival, the victims were placed on medical rest in a hotel to calm the blood pressure of one of the victims before the operation.

“The victims confessed that the suspect promised them N2 million each after the initial N500,000 initial deposit by the suspect,” he said.

According to the CP, the suspect confessed to the crime, stating that he procured a donor for another client two months ago where he received N1 million, and paid the victim N2.5 million.

In another development, nine criminal suspects were arrested in connection with gang-related robbery at night within Mararaba and environs.

The CP said their modus operandi include, attacking residents, stealing mobile phones and transferring funds from their victim’s bank account before selling the device to unsuspecting buyers.

He said that the suspects confessed to the crimes and admitted to carrying out operation at the Uke Karu where the son of serving police officer was killed.

Shettima urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious, particularly against individuals who disguise as genuine organ donor solicitors but only interested in the financial gains, moreso as the festive season is fast approaching.

Nasarawa is among the states in the North where organ harvest is rampant among young people. Most victims of organ harvest are poor citizens who engage themselves in menial jobs to survive.

Metro

Lagos Begins Clearance Of Tejuosho Market

Published

11 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Lagos State government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, yesterday, began clearance of Tejuosho Market in Yaba, Lagos State

The clearance operation is aimed at restoring sanity and upholding environmental standards in the area. The ministry said the operation was in line with the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make the state cleaner and habitable for business.

Commissioner for the Envir onment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said public spaces must remain orderly, safe and free from obstruction, and that the ministry would continue to enforce the law and ensure compliance with environmental regulations across Lagos.

Speaking with The Guardian, Head, Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI, Ajayi Lukman, said the agency received petitions against the traders three months ago and and engaged them in different occasions to leave the road but all the engagement did not yield fruit.

He said: “They didn’t turn a new leaf despite series of engagements and advocacy, and we decided to dislodge them today (November 18, 2028). The traders left their shops to move to walkways and setbacks. They also closed two lanes and left one for motorists. They converted the road into market without recourse

“Their excos came around to apologise. But no going back on our operation.”

The Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), said residents must continue to make Lagos habitable and cleaner for business via monitoring of all environs.

He noted the resolve of the agency towards eradicating the nefarious acts perpetuated by environmentally-insensitive individuals as he bemoaned the negative impact posed to public health.

Cole also emphasised how open urination, defecation and improper refuse disposal contributed to the sub-par air quality in some parts of the state.