Metro

Spill: Odimodi Community Decries Abandonment Of Broken Valve By Shell

Published

4 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

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.