By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), has warned of severe ecological damage in communities affected by a blowout from a facility owned by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited in Delta State.
According to the body, the blowout which occured nearly seven months ago is yet to be addressed despite that the incident has been brought to public notice.
The latest communities crying out are the Ijansa/Ijelejele, Ogbe-Ijaw, in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State. The affected communities, EDEN said, have alerted that the spill remains active and is spreading.
“The spill reportedly began on February 20, 2026 and has persisted with two additional spill incidents reported from the same pipeline. Despite repeated appeals for intervention, affected communities say the pipeline has not been fixed, no cleanup has been undertaken, and no relief materials or compensation have been provided,” EDEN Executive Director, Barr. Chima Williams said in a statement made available to NatureNews at the weekend.
According to the statement, tidal waves have reportedly carried the oil spill as far as Gbaramatu, extending the pollution to surrounding waterways and communities.
“Unverifiable footage recorded on September 24, 2026, shows the spill continuing to flow, raising further concerns about the expanding environmental damage and threats to local livelihoods,” the statement read in part.
On September 25, the affected community members staged a protest near the the spill site, with journalists in attendance, insisting that Heritage Energy and relevant authorities must urgently intervene and end the environmental disaster.
“This deliberate ecological assault is simply unacceptable. We find it utterly reprehensible that the community people are allowed to suffer needlessly even after a June 24, 2026 letter to the relevant authorities for action which did not receive any response”.
“We are perplexed because a sham Joint Investigation Visit was conducted without the participation of the affected communities. The silence from government is deafening. EDEN stands by them and we re-echo their demands for an immediate containment of the spill and repairs to be carried out on the ruptured pipeline to prevent further pollution,” Williams said.
He also called for a truly inclusive Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, involving the affected communities and immediate and comprehensive cleanup of all affected creeks, rivers, farmlands and surrounding environments.
The EDEN Executive Director called for urgent intervention to restore the environment and livelihoods of the impacted communities
“The communities have been forced away from the environment where they eke out a living hence, they would need urgent provision of relief materials and a fair and adequate compensation after proper assessment of the damage suffered is carried out,” Williams said.
The body recalled that the Ijansa/Ijelejele, Ogbe-Ijaw, in Warri South-West LGA, had in a letter dated 24 June 2026 urged Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and relevant authorities to take immediate action to contain the spill, protect affected communities and ensure accountability.
”We stand with the community people. Environmental justice demands immediate action, comprehensive remediation and justice for affected communities”, Williams stated.
