Residents of Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have taken to the streets in protest against an oil spill they allege was caused by Shell Nigeria.
The protest, currently ongoing at a Shell Oil Serv Facility, is taking place in the same location where the spill reportedly occurred two weeks ago. Community members, holding placards with messages such as “Shell, Clean Up Your Mess,” are demanding immediate action to address the environmental damage.
Shell Nigeria had earlier acknowledged the incident, stating that on February 5, an oil spill occurred in Ogale due to an overflow from a saver pit during flushing operations. The company claimed that its spill response team had contained the overflow and that authorities had been notified, with plans underway for a regulator-led joint assessment of the spill’s cause and impact.
However, local residents remain unconvinced, citing long-standing grievances over oil pollution in the Niger Delta. The region has suffered decades of environmental degradation from repeated spills, leading to severe damage to farmlands, water sources, and public health. Protesters are demanding that Shell take full responsibility, initiate a proper cleanup, and compensate affected communities.
Environmental activists and community leaders have also called for greater accountability from oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, urging both the government and international bodies to intervene to prevent further ecological harm.
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