The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has called on authorities to urgently address an oil spill and fire outbreak near Bukuma and Buguma in Rivers State, describing the incident as a serious environmental threat that has gone on for too long.
In a statement, EDEN’s Media Manager, Elvira Jordan, revealed that the call for action followed a distress message from residents after a massive fire erupted at the leaking wellhead on Monday, January 13, 2025. The wellhead has reportedly been spilling crude oil since early January.
On his part, Chima Williams, EDEN’s Executive Director, criticized regulatory agencies, including the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), for failing to act swiftly. He condemned the negligence, calling it a violation of human and environmental rights.
“This prolonged spill and fire outbreak threaten lives, aquatic systems, and livelihoods. Such a disaster should not be allowed to persist in any functional society,” Williams stated.
An anonymous resident alleged the fire started after an Air Force helicopter fired shots to deter oil bunkers.
