The Youth President of Kunukunuma Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Mackson Amakiri, has raised an alarm that the lives and properties of the people in the affected communities impacted by oil spill from a ruptured pipeline belonging to the joint venture partners, Neconde Energy Limited and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, are at grave risk.

Recall that the Delta riverine communities of Ikantu, Kunukunuma and Kurutie, among other settlements in Gbaramatu Kingdom, threatened to shut down the operations of the company for failing to act promptly to halt the spill which has been on for days.

Comr. Amakiri, throwing more light on the development, said "In 2015, something like this occurred due to equipment failure according to the company. They failed to boom the spill point that degenerated to the loss of lives a whole family. And now this has happened for sone days now, yet they have not done anything.

"The only concern I have is the lives and properties because the only occupation our people have is fishing. And if nothing is done, as the water flows, it will cause the spill to spread, leading to damage of the fishing occupation.

"Moreover, if this point is not boomed it can pose a danger to lives. Those familiar with fishing in the creeks know that our people go out with lamps and this is gas and oil we are talking about. Any ignition of fire can cause the destruction of lives and properties," he warned.

Speaking further, the Kunukunuma youth president appealed to Neconde and the NPDC to act swiftly in order to save the lives and properties, just as he listed some conditions the companies should comply with to assuage the anger of the people over their lack of promptness to act.

"The people living in this territory, their lives and properties are in danger. Please, we are calling on Neconde and NPDC to come and boom this place; secondly, they should come to the host communities with relief materials because at this point the people can no longer go to fishing to earn their livelihoods.

"Also, before they should do anything they should call on the leadership of Kunukunuma, Ikantu, and Kurutie communities to be involved in order for them to operate peacefully. As it is now, we are no longer happy with the way and manner these companies are operating in this territories. When the white men from Dutch were operating here, lives were considered. But from what we are seeing from our fellow brothers from Nigeria as investors is hell," he fumed.

Adding his voice to the call, the P.R.O. of Kurutie community, Comr. Alex Igare, said “If they (Neconde/NPDC) fail to comply, we will take drastic measures against them for their behaviors because they have been neglecting the people of Gbaramatu for a very long time.”

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