…demand adequate compensation

WARRI—Ijaw communities in Delta and Bayelsa states, affected by the recent oil spill from Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC ruptured pipelines, have faulted the oil company for saying that a militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, which claimed to have blown up several oil installations in the Niger Delta region, was responsible for the spill.

The communities said that Niger Delta Avengers was a non-existent militant group and described it as a media hype by SPDC to evade  liabilities from the spill of February 14, 2016.

The communities urged SPDC to be bold enough to carrying out an independent assessment and pay adequate compensation to the affected communities. They also want SPDC to clean up the affected environment.

In a statement by leaders of 22 affected  communities , the people alleged that the spill which is claimed to be as a result of a militant group’s attack was not due to sabotage by either the Niger Delta Avengers or any known militant group whatsoever, alleging that it was just a ploy being introduced by SPDC.

The communities in the joint statement by Mr. Arthur Benidiwei, Dehmeon Wuka, Chief Lawrence Orukemezuogha, Eric Faka, and Felix Galiwei among others,  urged SPDC to provide evidence of the Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, conducted by NOSDRA, the regulatory agency which has the statutory duty to conduct investigations on spillages.