By Ambrose Ologide
Ugbokodo – Okpe Community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State has called for the cleanup and remediation of an alleged oil spillage in the area.
The President General of the community Emmanuel Aki who doubles as the Conference Chairman of the community made the call at a press briefing in the community on Wednesday 3rd May , 2023.
He noted that Ugbokodo Okpe is host to Seplat Energies, Nigerian Gas Company , Heritage Energy Services & Pipeline and Product Marketing Company , NNPC – E & P Limited among other multinationals .
Aki who lamented that the oil spilage has destroyed the acquatic and other economic lives of the area , emphasized that the area where the oil spillage occurred was in Ugbokodo Okpe Community in Okpe Local Government Area and not Egbokodo – Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area” erroneously reported by the media ” he added.
He also called for the immediate investigation and arrest of those behind the dastardly act.
The President General of the ancient Okpe community noted that ” It has been a common notice of people disgusting as oil and gas workers with fake identify cards of which it is difficult for we to know which is genuine when accosted. ” he stated.
He also bitterly noted that most companies operating in the community left their premises unmanned by security guards .
” This makes the companies vulnerable to attacks and at the end they will shift their negligence to the community” he added.
Aki however disclosed that the community has beefed up security in the area by setting up volunteered vigilante groups which he said have destroyed the operational base of hoodlums in the area,
Christopher Ogele and Philip Ukeredi ( the spokesman and youth leader of the community respectively ) who also at the press briefing, corroborated the statements of their President General.
They however appealed to government security agents to compliment the community ‘ s efforts by quickly responding to their calls in order to checkmate the nafarious activities of the hoodlums.
The duo also appealed that government security agents should treat information given to them about hoodlums in the area with utmost confidentiality in order to avoid attacks on individuals by the hoodlums.
