‘Mystery oil spill’ reported in Bayelsa community

Foropa, a fishing settlement along the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has reported a ‘mystery oil spill’ that left the coastline polluted.

Mystery spills refer to crude oil leaks from unknown sources where many oil firms are operating near each other.

A Jan. 8 notification letter signed by Pastor Olabai Olozulu, the traditional ruler of Foropa, Middleton, indicated that the oil leak at the coastline was noticed on Jan. 3.

The letter was addressed to the Head of Bayelsa Office of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

The letter sighted by a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent on Wednesday stated that six oil firms operate within Foropa vicinity in Southern Ijaw LGA.

The companies include First E & P, Conoil Exploration, NEPL, Shell and Nigdel United Oil Company.

NAN reports that the community urged the regulatory agency and other government organs to trace the source of the spill and mitigate its impact on the predominantly fishing settlement.

The community also urged the oil firms to mobilise relief materials to reduce the suffering of the people.

Mr Chukwuemeka Iheanacho, Head of NOSDRA in Bayelsa, confirmed that the agency was in receipt of the report and was planning a joint visit to the impacted site with all the oil companies operating in the area.