The oil pollution crisis in Odidi Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, is deepening amid claims that Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) is still pumping crude oil while leaks from its operations continue to discharge crude into surrounding rivers, creeks and shores.
The development has triggered outrage in the oil-producing community, where residents say the spill has persisted for about six months, contaminating waterways, destroying fishing grounds and threatening livelihoods.
Community members allege that rather than stopping operations to address the source of the pollution, crude pumping is continuing even as oil escapes into the environment—raising fresh concerns over the extent of the ecological damage.
The situation prompted residents to storm Heritage Energy’s operational office in Edjeba, Warri, demanding immediate action to halt the pollution and protect their environment.
For the community, the continued pumping of crude in the face of an unresolved leak represents more than negligence. They describe it as an environmental crime unfolding in plain sight.
The polluted waterways are vital to the livelihoods of fishermen and other residents who depend on the aquatic ecosystem. With crude allegedly continuing to enter the rivers and surrounding shores, fears are growing that the environmental damage could spread further if urgent measures are not taken.
Odidi residents are therefore demanding that the company stop the source of the leak, suspend activities contributing to the pollution, contain the spill and commence a credible cleanup and remediation process.
The central question now confronting the company and regulators is simple: Why is crude pumping continuing while oil is still allegedly flowing into the environment?
For Odidi, every additional hour of uncontrolled discharge could mean more polluted water, lost fishing grounds and deeper environmental damage.