A strange chemical leakage from a domestic borehole facility in Agudama Community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has raised concerns among environmentalists and local residents.
The leakage, which was reported on January 12, 2025, has prompted the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) to call for immediate action from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency, and other relevant stakeholders.
According to EDEN, a resident of the community, Beatrice Mieye, reported the leakage after discovering a strange liquid, resembling crude oil, in her borehole.
The group’s Media Manager, Elvira Jordan, noted that an investigation by EDEN’s field monitoring team revealed that the borehole had been in use for six years without incident, but had been lying fallow for six to seven months due to a faulty submersible pump.
“We call for a swift intervention by SPDC and all related government agencies, to detect the cause and source of the spill for prompt resolution,” said Alagoa Morris, Deputy Executive Director of EDEN.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, has expressed determination to follow up on the matter, and has visited the site alongside the State Sanitation Authority.
In a related development, EDEN has commended the Bayelsa State government for its move against indiscriminate logging, implementing a forest closure in the state.
“We commend the Bayelsa State government for such environmentally friendly move, as the forest closure will protect the biodiversity of the environment,” said Elvira Jordan, Media Manager of EDEN.
She noted that investigation into the chemical leakage is ongoing, and the group has urged all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to resolve the issue and prevent further environmental damage.