A fishing community, Foropa, along the Atlantic coastline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has reported what it called a mystery oil spill that left the coastline polluted.
Charmingpro reports that mystery spills refer to crude oil leaks from unknown sources where there are many oil firms operating near each other.
A Jan. 8 notification letter addressed to the Head of Bayelsa Office of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, signed by Pastor Olabai Olozulu, traditional ruler of the community, revealed that the oil leak at the coastline was noticed on Jan. 3.
The community called on the regulatory agency and other government organs to trace the source of the spill and mitigate its effect on the predominantly fishing settlement.
It also urged the oil firms operating in the area to mobilise relief materials to reduce the sufferings of the people.
Head of NOSDRA in Bayelsa, Mr Chukwuemeka Iheanacho, confirmed that the agency was in receipt of the report and was planning a joint visit to the impacted site with all the oil companies operating in the area.
Iheanachor said a ‘fingerprinting’ analysis of the crude samples from the site would reveal the operator whose facility discharged the crude into the environment.
“We are planning a Joint Investigation visit by next Tuesday. I am writing to all the operators within the area to send their representatives because samples will be collected for fingerprinting,” Iheanacho said.