Five Months After Oil Spill, Bayelsa Environment Engulfed by Fire as Communities Demand Action

YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE – 

Environmental advocates and community leaders in Bayelsa State have raised fresh concerns over the continued degradation of the Biseni environment following an oil spill that occurred about five months ago, with parts of the affected area now reportedly set ablaze.

Biseni Kingdom, located in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, comprises of 13 communities and hosts oil operations belonging to Renaissance Africa Energy Company and Oando PLC, formerly Shell and Agip. The area is crisscrossed by numerous oil wells and pipelines transporting crude oil and gas to neighboring Rivers State.

Over the years, the kingdom has witnessed repeated incidents of oil spills, many of which have devastated farmlands, lakes, fish ponds, and other natural water bodies due to the terrain of the area. Residents, whose livelihoods depend heavily on farming and fishing, say such incidents have had severe economic, environmental, and health consequences.

According to community sources, the latest spill occurred in December 2025 along Oando's Asamabiri–OB/OB pipeline.

When environmental rights group Environmental Conservation, Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD) first visited the site on February 14, 2026, it observed extensive crude oil contamination of the Fazino Lake.

The organization reported that while the ruptured section of the pipeline had been clamped, there was no visible evidence of containment measures such as booms to prevent the spread of crude oil. The lake remained heavily polluted, with crude oil covering large sections of its surface.

The situation took a disturbing turn in May when ECARD received a video allegedly showing thick columns of dark smoke rising from the same spill site. The report prompted a follow-up visit to the area, accompanied by Advocate Broadcasting Network (ADBN) correspondent Temple Achinonu. Led by Biseni indigene and Ijaw Youth Council Clan Secretary, Aye Preye, the team accessed the remote site by motorcycle and documented the visible condition of the

affected environment.

Signs of Extensive Environmental Damage

As the field monitoring team led by the Chief Operating Officer of ECARD, Comrade Alagoa Morris approached the spill site; they encountered scorched and lifeless trees lining the pathway that connects to the polluted lake. Going further into the rainy season raises concerns that contaminants could spread further once heavy rains commence. Field observations revealed widespread destruction of vegetation. Undergrowth within the affected area had been completely wiped out, while dried leaves crumbled underfoot.

Investigators also found evidence of fire damage, including a fallen log that was still smoldering during the visit. According to Comrade Alagoa, crude oil had sprayed into the surrounding vegetation when the pipeline ruptured, coating trees and plants and causing them to wither before the area was eventually burned.

He pointed to the apparent absence of wildlife within the impacted zone. Although birds could be heard in nearby areas, investigations showed that there were no insects, snails, or other ground- dwelling organisms within the contaminated land or on the polluted lake. According to him, the observations highlight the severe toxic effects of crude oil pollution on local ecosystems.

Comrade Alagoa strongly condemned the burning of oil-polluted environments, describing the practice as environmentally harmful and unacceptable.

Burning oil spill-impacted environments as a method of cleanup or to conceal evidence of pollution is a negative environmental practice and should not be tolerated, the group stated. He faulted regulatory bodies, especially the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for not effectively executing their duties. He accused them of relying on the polluting companies for logistics during Joint Investigation Visits, which affects the authenticity of their JIV reports; after which NOSDRA failed to revisit such sites independently as a follow up to ascertain the condition of the environment.

The Ijaw Youth Council representative in Biseni, Aye Preye who also spoke on the issue, called on Oando to urgently mobilize resources for comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the affected environment before the onset of heavy rains. He warned that further delays could allow pollutants to spread into additional lakes, waterways, and farmlands across the Biseni axis.

The groups also appealed to regulatory agencies, including the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, to compel the company to take immediate action.

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