Residents of Ogale community, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, have taken to the streets to protest an oil spill they allege was caused by Shell Nigeria.
The protest is currently underway at a Shell Oil Service Facility, located in the same area where the spill occurred two weeks ago.
Protesters are carrying placards bearing messages of their grievances, including the demand, “Shell Clean Up Your Mess,” as they march around the site.
The protest coincides with a significant UK court hearing scheduled for February 13, 2025, which involves 13,000 farmers from Ogale and other affected communities seeking justice for the environmental damage caused by Shell’s operations.
On February 5, 2025, Shell Nigeria reported an oil spill near Port Harcourt, triggered by an overflow from a saver pit during flushing operations.
The company stated that its spill response team had contained the overflow and alerted the relevant authorities.
Shell also announced plans to arrange a regulator-led joint visit to assess the cause and environmental impact of the spill.
The Niger Delta region has long suffered from oil spills, which have caused widespread environmental degradation and negatively impacted the livelihoods and health of local communities.
