Desmond Iwuchukwu
Residents of the Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area say negligence on the part of the government and the oil multinational operating the ruptured pipeline in the area is responsible for their occupation of the oil spill site in the area.
The Youth Leader of the Bodo Community Peter Mongia while speaking to newsmen insisted that the oil multinational must compensate the residents.
He said the Bodo community is demanding 40 million naira compensation per resident as compensation for the series of oil spills in the area.
The Youth Leader of the Bodo Community Peter Mongia further denied allegations that they drove away their paramount rulers and government agencies from the community.
The Woman leader of Bodo Community Charity Igana said the oil spills have devastated their environment.
She said that oil spills are having a negative effect on their health.
Charity Igana said that the community lacks basic amenities like a health center, good schools and electricity, and potable water.
Ogoni Youth Federation blames Shell for oil spills in the Bodo community
The Ogoni Youth Federation has blamed the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company for the incessant oil spills in Bodo, Gokana LGA.
This concern was raised by the President-General of Ogoni Youth Federation, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana during a fact-finding mission on oil spill-affected areas in the Bodo Community.
The Ogoni Youth Boss expressed dismay over what he described as negligence on the part of the federal government and SPDC to the plights of the coastal communities affected by oil spills due to equipment failure and negligence by the NNPC and their joint venture partners.
Yamaabana noted the level of damage the oil spill has caused to the environment and people of the Bodo whose means of livelihood is predominantly fishing and farming.
He called on SPDC to attend to the demands of the Bodo Community or Ogoni Youth Federation will relocate its secretariat to Shell corporate office until the demands of the community are met.
