The people of Aghoro 1 Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have kicked against the breach of oil spill procedures in the leak that occurred in the area on May 17, 2018.
Recall that there was a leak on the Trans Ramos Pipeline that ruptured and spilled about 1,114 barrels of crude oil into the environment.
 The oil spill, which occurred at an oilfield operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) had impacted and polluted an estimated area of 113.03 hectares.
 A joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report of the incident obtained by our source had concluded that the leaks on the pipeline at three spots were caused by equipment failure. 
According to the community, SPDC was frustrating the community efforts to get redress following established templates of computing spill compensation rate based on volume of spill and damage assessment.
 In a letter on Monday in Yenagoa to the Managing Director of SPDC by the consultants to the community, Mr Furoebi Akene, the Principal Partner FASF Associates officials of SPDC were frantically trying to breach scientific procedure in spills response.
 According to Akene, rather than await the outcome of a joint post impact and damage assessment being carried out by regulators, SPDC officials were foisting a negotiation method on the people before the assessment report.
 He said that the post impact assessment report being expected from National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was the only legitimate method of ascertaining the compensation due to the community.
 “We are compelled to write you this letter due to the oppressive antics adopted by your company since the spill occurred till date as though you are above the enabling laws of this country where you operate.
 “This letter also becomes inevitable against the sad backdrop of the fresh moves by officials of the SPDC in Port Harcourt led by the head of lands in pathetic disregard for due process and industry’s best practices,” Akene said.