Delta: Isoko South Chairman Sue for Calm as Massive Crude Oil Spill Ravages Uzere Community

The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. (Comr.) Friday Ovoke Warri, has called on residents of Uzere Kingdom to remain calm following the massive crude oil spill that has devastated parts of the community and heightened fears of a major environmental disaster.

The council chairman made the appeal Wednesday during an inspection of the affected area alongside the Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor.

The visit was aimed at evaluating the extent of the damage and reassuring residents of the government’s commitment to ensuring a swift response to the incident.

The spill, which was reportedly triggered by equipment failure at a facility operated by Heritage Energy Operating Services Limited (HEOSL) on June 27, 2026, has wreaked havoc on the oil producing community. Large expanses of farmland have been submerged by crude oil, water bodies polluted, and the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers and fishermen severely threatened.

Among the hardest hit locations is Uheri quarter, where residents say vast hectares of cultivated farmland have been destroyed, while rivers and streams that serve as sources of fishing and domestic water have also been contaminated.

Uzere occupies a prominent place in Nigeria’s petroleum history and is widely regarded as the second location where crude oil was discovered in the country after Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State. The latest incident has therefore renewed concerns over environmental protection and the need for stronger operational safeguards in oil-producing communities.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the environmental vulnerabilities of the Niger Delta, where oil producing communities continue to grapple with the consequences of decades of petroleum exploration.

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Addressing residents during the inspection, Warri assured them that the Delta State Government was working closely with the operating company and relevant regulatory agencies to contain the spill and minimise its environmental impact.

The council chairman urged the people not to take laws into their own hands, stressing that efforts were already underway to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

“Remain calm. We are closely monitoring the situation, and every effort is being made to ensure the spill is contained and does not get out of control. Government will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment,” Warri said.

A representative of Heritage Energy Operating Services Limited disclosed that the company had activated emergency response measures, adding that foreign technical experts were already on their way to Nigeria to strengthen ongoing containment operations.

According to the representative, the company would continue to monitor the affected area and work with relevant authorities until the spill is fully contained and a lasting solution is achieved.

Also speaking during the inspection, community leader and former President General of the Isoko Development Union, (IDU), Chief Iduh Amaidhe expressed concern over the slow pace of containment efforts, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent action was not taken.

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Amadhe noted that Uzere is particularly vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season and cautioned that rising floodwaters could spread the crude oil into more communities, farmlands and rivers, with devastating consequences for residents.

“Uzere is a flood-prone community. If the rains intensify and floodwaters carry the crude oil into our farmlands and rivers, the impact on our people will be devastating. We appeal to the government and the operating company to act swiftly to protect our community from a greater environmental disaster,” Amadhe said.

The inspection by state and local government officials underscores ongoing efforts to collaborate with Heritage Energy Operating Services Limited and other stakeholders to contain the spill, mitigate its environmental impact, and ensure the restoration of affected areas.