An oil spill has reportedly destroyed aquatic lives and crippled other riverine economic activities in the Egbokodo community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Chairman of Egbokodo Community Trust, Hon. Austin Tete, told newsmen that the spill from the OML30 Crude Trunk line, operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL has demoralized the people of Egbokodo.
Tete said that he will not allow Egbokodo indigenes and other residents of the community to suffer the dangerous consequences of the spill.
According to him, the people of Egbokodo-Itsekiri do not engage in economic sabotage.
While saying that the OML30 Crude Trunk line connects the Trans-Forcados Pipeline, Hon Tete revealed that the spill which started seven days ago from a neighboring community, has polluted the water line in Egbokodo and extended beyond the Itsekiri community.
He alleged that the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited has refused to stop further spills from the trunkline.
Hon Tete tasked the company’s management to immediately halt the spill, clean up the affected areas and compensate the people of the Egbokodo Community, to sustain the smooth relationship between the Egbokodo community and the company.
He declared that if the company refuses to carry out the clean-up exercise the leadership of the community should not be blamed for any action taken by the people of the community.
Hon Tete called on the Delta State Government, security agencies, and other relevant bodies, to prevail on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL to do the needful by providing relief materials, paying compensation to the community as well as stopping the spill to prevent further destruction of their river which the people depend on for their daily living.
Also speaking, the Youth Chairman of Egbokodo Community, Emmanuel Ofeoritse Adjisha, and the Treasurer of Egbokodo Community Trust, Amorighoye Eric Afejuku, expressed dismay over the spill, even as the company has ascertained the point of the spill.
Adjisha claimed that the spill occurred at Ugbokodo in Okpe Local Government Area.
Efforts to reach the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL to comment on the alleged spill proved abortive.
