Several communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are reeling from the impact of two fresh oil spills that have polluted their water sources and farmlands. The spills occurred on October 4, 2024, along the 14-inch Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline operated by Oando, and have severely affected Ogboinbiri, Keme-ebiama, Kolokologbene, Gbaraun, Apoi, and Ukubie communities.

According to environmentalist Alagoa Morris, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, the recent spill sites are close to those of a previous spill on the same pipeline on September 5, 2024. After visiting the affected areas, Morris reported that the oil has already spread into the Ogiori stream and Apoi Creek, impacting communities downstream.

Community leaders expressed their frustration, particularly because the recent spills occurred before Oando had addressed the earlier spill. Chief Newstyle Ogiori, Chairman of the Keme-ebiama Council of Chiefs, highlighted the far-reaching consequences, stating that contaminated water has left the communities without a clean source for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

The situation is dire, especially for the Ijaw people, who rely heavily on these water sources for daily life. The contamination has forced residents to depend on rainfall for basic needs like cooking and bathing, with many unable to use the polluted water. The communities are calling for immediate action to address the spills and restore their environment.

This crisis underscores the pressing need for both corporate responsibility and prompt intervention to mitigate the long-term environmental and health risks posed by repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta region.