Residents of Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, were forced to evacuate their community on Wednesday following a massive oil spill and subsequent fire from a wellhead at Oil Mining Lease-15, a facility operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The spill has severely impacted aquatic life in Buguma and neighboring Degema Local Government Area.

According to reports from Eons Intelligence, the spill, now in its third consecutive day, continues to spread across waterways, exacerbating the environmental and economic devastation in the affected areas. Community sources disclosed that no representatives from the government or the facility operators had visited the site to address the situation.

The spill and fire have reportedly killed significant aquatic life, including fish, periwinkle, and other species vital to the community's livelihood.

Livingstone Membere, President of the Kalabari Youth Federation, criticized the operators of the facility for their lack of responsiveness. “No company or government agency has come to stop the spill. You can see the fire. We never anticipated it would reach this hazardous stage,” Membere stated. He called for the Federal Government to take immediate action to extinguish the fire, clean up the affected environment, and compensate those impacted by the disaster.

Another youth leader, Taribo Horsefall from Bukuma, attributed the fire to a spark caused during oil siphoning operations at the facility. “The company brought a barge that was extracting oil from the ground. The crane was dragging something from the well when a spark ignited the fire,” Horsefall explained.

A local chief, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the situation as a severe health and environmental threat. “We have been reporting to the relevant authorities, but no action has been taken. People are fleeing because they cannot endure the hazardous conditions caused by the fire and gas emissions,” the chief said. He urged NNPCL and government agencies to respond swiftly, noting that the spill has destroyed marine life and mangroves, vital to the community's economy and ecosystem.

The Rivers State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that the spill resulted from a faulty valve. She added, “We have alerted relevant government agencies about the development.”

Community members are demanding urgent intervention, including extinguishing the fire, a thorough cleanup of the waterways, and adequate compensation for the losses suffered. The continued delay in addressing the crisis has compounded the suffering of affected residents, highlighting the need for a more proactive approach to environmental emergencies.