Fishermen, operating on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean near Bayelsa State, have reported an oil leakage from the Funiwa oilfield operated by Chevron Nigeria (CNL).
Some fishermen from Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State raised the alarm in a chat with newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa.
The fishermen, who operate on shallow waters near the ocean, said they noticed that crude was on the waters near the oil facility as helicopters were seen overflying the area.
Tombra Ebitimi, a fisherman from the coastal settlement, said he observed the incident on Saturday night and subsequently reported the same to the community leadership.
He said that apart from helicopters sighted around the area possibly for assessment, meaningful response efforts had yet to begin.
“Some of us, who went on fishing, sailed into the oil-contaminated area near the Funiwa oilfield got our nets and fishing gear soaked with crude on Saturday.
But we noticed some helicopters hovering around the facility by today,’’ he said.
Ebitimi said it could be that community leaders have informed the company of the development, which made them deployed helicopters in the area.
He appealed to the company not to apply toxic chemicals from the sky to dissolve the crude oil, saying, “those chemicals are unfriendly to fishes and marine life generally’’.
He said that fishermen in the area had temporarily suspended fishing to avoid catching contaminated fishes that could jeopardise public health.