Fourteen communities on the Kolo Creek in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have raised the alarm over the pollution of the creek by the activities of illegal crude oil refiners.

The residents of the area have, therefore, called on the Bayelsa State government and the Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force to save them from the harmful effects of the pollution.

Checks indicated that the Kolo Creek has become a major corridor of artisanal refining activities with four of the communities-Otuasega, Imiringi, Yiba-ama (Oruma) Ibelebiri-being the most impacted in recent times.

They lamented that the illegal oil refining camps known in local parlance as “Kpofire” had polluted the Kolo Creek, which is their only source of drinking water.

Their concerns were captured in a field report released on Monday by the Yenagoa office of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and signed by its officials, Akpotu Ziworitin and Alagoa Morris.

According to some leaders of the communities who preferred anonymity for fear of being attacked by the illegal operators of the camps, the environmental issue had been discussed but the residents were helpless.

The report quoted one of the leaders as saying, “The main subject of discussion was how to stop the activities causing the Kolo Creek to be so polluted. But our fear, to be truthful to you, is that anybody within this area that champions the moves aimed at stopping the local refining (causing the pollution) would be attacked be those boys (perpetrators).

“So, the resolution was that we are going to approach the operators/owners of the crude oil refining camps to tell them not to allow the crude oil come down to the River (Kolo Creek). They should look for a way, either to dig a pit where the residue of their operations could be directed (contained) and later burnt off.

“That was the only option we arrived at that day. But, the issue of stopping the operations or activities of the local refiners; it will result into serious crisis between the operators and the communities. Anybody that champions that, more especially in this our area, would be attacked. And so, we are avoiding that one. But as long as government is in (interested in stopping them), government is bigger than them and communities would support such efforts of government.”

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Two indigenes of the area, Angelina Ngeribo and Agnes Ibugom, said the people could no longer bathe in the creek or fetch the water for domestic uses, stressing that the situation had made life difficult for them.

Ngeribo said, “This crude oil on our water is affecting us in many ways. There is no way to bathe in the Creek again. If you venture to go in and come out your body would be oily as if you rubbed pomade. We are suffering as a result of the current condition of the river.

“We are not telling lies. When you are paddling in your canoe, all your hands, your chest, clothes will all get soiled with crude oil; including your canoe.”

Ibugom, while corroborating Ngeribo said, “You are not even engaged in bunkering, but it would seem as if you are one of those involved in the act. Even our children are no longer going to take their bath in the creek.

“Sometimes, due to the oily condition of the paddle as we are pulling on the creek, we stop at the bank of the creek and rub the paddle against leaves and grasses; but that too couldn’t help remove the oil. Sometimes, you will slip and fall while walking.”