Bodo Oil Spill: Community May Sue Shell Again

The former Secretary of
Bodo Council of Chiefs Chief Saint Emmah Pii, has said that his people may head to International Court to seek redress should Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) continue to play game with the community over the 2008/2009 oil spill that occoured in their area.
Pii, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt last week, said Shell was yet to show pity or regret over the untold hardship its oil activities have caused his people.
He said that what the oil company offered them in the name of compensation was shameful and unacceptable.
The chief noted that the spill destroyed both aquatic and land animals in the area, thereby, making life difficult for the people, who he said are mainly farmers and fishermen.
He pointed out that it took Shell so much time to show up for remediation, adding that it was a major oil spill in Bodo community.
According to him, the company accepted responsibility for the incident, saying that it was equipment failure.
The community leader, recalled that no relief material was sent by the oil paint.
He wondered how the company could be so mindless over the plight of the people who are playing host to them.
He expressed hope that the International Court would address Shell better since its management was not interested in a local approach.
It would be recalled that the negotiations between Shell and Bodo community hit brick wall last week, when both parties were unable to reach conclusion on how to pay compensation as a result of the oil spillage that occured in their land five fears ago.