By Okworide Simeon
The Ovie of Uzere Kingdom, HRM Isaac Udogri 1 and Residents have raised an alarm of gaseous eruption in Uweye quarters of the community as the eruption continued to increase without any form of abatement.
The gaseous eruption which is currently ongoing at different locations in the community has created fears in the mind of the residents.
The residents of the affected areas have raised the alarm that the eruption has increased in intensity and actively spreading it was first noticed three days ago.
HRM Isaac Udogri 1 who spoke to the press at his Palace on October 1st, about the gaseous eruption, noted that, the situation currently is frightening and is not good for the community to witness such situation and it must not be allowed to spread.
While expressing his misgivings towards the current situation, he noted that, not too long ago a devastating oil blowout incident at oil well 14 in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, a facility owned and managed by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd (HEOSL) which the community has not recovered from and then, this one.
"We woke up to witness strange and frightening developments; uncontrolled emissions of gas from the ground in countless places including residential houses and farmlands accompanied by open fire. We are no longer safe in our community"
"Night photographs from the community were very clear, it shows open flames burning directly from the ground inside Uzere"
The Ovie who was not happy with the situation at hand noted that if the relevant authority did not do the right thing at the moment to the gas eruption and the fire spreads or the gas accumulates , the entire community might likely witness mass explosion and monumental loss of lives and properties which is barbaric and unacceptable.
"This is a clear violation of our fundamental rights to life and healthy environment"
The Monarch then used the medium to call on the federal and state governments to declare a state of emergency in Uzere, while urging NOSTRA and NUPRC to immediately dispatch their emergency response team to Uzere to see first hand the danger being faced by Uzere people.
Also reacting to the incident that was reported to have stated on September 28, 2026, the Vice President of Uzere community, Engr. Abednego Abugo, described the incident as strange occurrence, as such has not been seen before, and called on the government and the oil company operating in the area to urgently intervene.
"We cannot say whether it is the gods that are causing the gas emission or an act of God; our lives are not safe".
He recalled the ugly experience of the blowout in Uzere Well 14, that the company has not done any meaningful remediation over it; yet to show any form of corporate social responsibility like any sort of relief materials to the affected people, but are always using the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)as an excuse.
Speaking further, the Vice President said that as precautionary measures, he called on the company to ensure that the residents of the affected areas be relocated to safer places,, engage experts to do assessment of the situation to avoid casualties.
In his reaction, the community Chairman of Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Columbus Oguname described the gaseois emission from the ground and water bubbles of gas, lightning up when fire is ignited as an unusual situation, suggesting a likelihood of pressure underneath the ground.
On the safety measures taken to address the situation, Columbus stated that the management of the oil company operating in the community, Heritage Energy and regulators have been contacted on the incident to urgently intervene.
Speaking to the Press, Landlords in the area, including Chief (Mrs) Florence Ogueri, Anthony Ogueri, Dr. Iyomaterie Ajiri, Hon. Omuye Joan Oghenero and the Uzere Youth Chairman, Comr. James Miller and residents narrated their various ordeals ranging from health challenges caused by the gaseous emissions, sleeplessness and clamoured for quick government intervention as the intensity of the emission is increasing rapidly.
As at the time of filing this report, the operators of OML 30 JVP are yet to officially react to the development, though some of their staff were seen milling around the vicinity but refused to speak to the Press.