Sabatoru is a Nembe-speaking Ijaw coastal community administratively situated in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It is a predominantly fishing and farming community. As a transit community, having Agip crude oil pipeline traversing the community environment, the community has experienced several oil spills in the recent past. The last oil spill from the community environment reported by ERA/FoEN spread through the creeks to other neighbouring communities in Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Area such as Akipilai, Oloibiri and Igbeta Iwoama. The current spill, like the previous one, occurred along the Brass/Ogoda pipeline that links Obama Flow-station.
On 13th July 2012, ERA/FoEN field monitors visited the community in company of the Chairman of Oil and Gas in Nembe kingdom, Alabo Nengi James. After meeting with community leaders and obtaining permission to be escorted round the impacted environment, the fact-finding team was led to some of the impacted creeks and rivulets within the Sabatoru environment. Besides the testimony obtained from the King of Sabatoru before going to the impacted sites, some testimonies were also obtained from the community's youth leader and chairman of Sabatoru Community Development Committee at the impacted sites.
The delay in mobilizing to site and get the spill point clamped by Agip is unacceptable and there should be a change of attitude. One of the very first observation as ERA/FoEN arrived the Sabatoru environment was the presence of tugboats and very large barges.There was also an intimidating military presence which included the navy and soldiers in two gunboats and two speedboats. While the gunboats were stationed at the same place where the barges were [at the entrance to the pipeline, across the community river] the two speedboats with naval personnel were at the community water front. A heavy machine was sighted on the pipeline far away. While at the King’s residence an Agip staff came in and informed him that the heavy duty machine used for excavation at the spill point has stuck in thick mud on its way out after completion of clamping and, may stay in the community environment longer than necessary.
When ERA/FoEN was led around some of the impacted creeks, very thick volume of crude oil slick was noticed, including right in the mangrove swamps. This will surely affect the flora and fauna within the environment, especially periwinkle and oysters with little or no ability to run away from danger. The adventitious roots and leaves of mangroves were all soiled with crude oil. The pungent smell of crude oil heralded visitors to the area. At the point where the on-going construction Ogbia/Nembe Road cross the Orbiama creek, a large boom was seen in place, obviously to contain and prevent the spread of the crude oil slick. This was where the youth president, Alabo Nengi James and the CDC chairman spoke to the fact-finding team and the GPS taken. Some persons were also seen going about the spill containment contract, with a light speedboat.
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