Four Ogoni communities drag Shell to court over oil spill

[MrVan]

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT — Six families in four communities in Ogoni, Rivers State, have dragged Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, before the state high court sitting in Port Harcourt over an oil spill in 2009 at its Bomu manifold facility in K Dere.

The plaintiffs are demanding compensation of N121.7 billion for what they said was the severe hardship imposed on them and their local population by the spill.

The case has been adjourned till May 10, for hearing.

Bariaria Kpalep, spokesperson for the families, said the communities affected by the oil spill were Kegbara Dere, Kpor, Biara and Deken, while the plaintiffs are  Gberebeedom, Keenom, Dugbor, Keregbor, Biradee and Nkoo/Gbienga Nbe.

In another development, Shell is to collaborate with Discovery channel global education partnership and the Rivers State Government to set up educational video learning centres for pupils in Rivers State.

Vanguard Nigeria