By Egufe Yafugborhi
WARRI – FIRE outbreak from an oil blowout
on the Riapele-Forcas Trunkline belonging to
the Shell Petroleum Development Company
(SPDC) has reportedly killed a mother and
three children in Odidi, Warri South West Local
Government Area, Delta State.
Friday Deinghan, a community leader in Odidi
who spoke to Vanguard yesterday described
the magnitude of the spill and the associated
fire as “unprecedented”.
The alleged victims include Mrs Ebosine
Photo, 36, her children, Siyafa and Gift Photo,
16 and 6 years respectively and an unnamed
toddler just under a year.
Deighan said, “The mother and the children
were out fishing more than three kilometers
away from the spill point, very unmindful that
the crude oil has spread across the river. It
was nightfall.
“She made to light a hurricane lamp they
usually use to illuminate their way as they
mend their nets and fishing traps. Immediately
she lit it and dropped it into the water, the
thing caught fire and engulfed the four of
them.”
He said no Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) has
been carried to ascertain the cause and extent
of damage since the community noticed
bubbles on the blowout spot and reported to
SPDC Thursday last week.
“The community had promptly notified Shell,
asking them to boom the place to arrest the
oil from spreading wide, but they refused. That
line is aged and that spot has undergone
failure and contracted for clamping repeatedly.
“As I speak with you now, it is serious
humanitarian concern in the community as
the people are confused and in mourning.
People can’t go for fishing and something
urgent needs to be done.”http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/oil-blowout-kills-mother-three-children-in-delta/