By Samuel Oyandogha

YENAGOA — The Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has blamed the recent oil spillage at Ikarama community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State on sabotage.

The spill, which occurred last weekend in the community left farm lands and other economic crops of the peasant farmers destroyed.

Spokesman of SPDC, Mr. Percious Okolobo said the latest spillage was caused by saboteurs who vandalized the company’s 12-inch delivery pipeline in the area.

He said though the ruptured pipeline had been repaired, efforts were on-going to recover the spilled crude in the area.

His words, “there was a sabotage spill (hacksaw cut) reported on Thursday June 24 on our 12-inch Adibawa delivery line at Ikarama. A joint investigation visit comprising government agencies, the community and SPDC officials confirmed the cause to be sabotage. We repaired the line on Saturday, June 26, and currently recovering spilled oil.”

But the natives who did not want their names in print said the incessant leakages from the pipelines that traversed their community was the result of old age and equipment failure.