A fresh oil spill from Shell’s Okordia/Rumueme trunk line has devastated Ikarama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Community sources said the spill occurred on Wednesday and has been spreading fast into the surrounding swamps.
There were, however, conflicting reports as to what caused the incident.
While a source alleged that it was caused by sabotage, another reported that it might have resulted from corrosion as the crude was bubbling from the affected portion of the pipeline underground and flowing into the environment aided by flood.
The ruptured point on the pipeline was said to be spewing large volumes of crude.
“The spill is continuing and spreading into the surrounding swamps,” a source told Saturday Independent.
An official of the community, who preferred anonymity, called on the company to immediately deploy a response team to the spill area, conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) and ensure a cleanup.
