Shell probes oil leak in Bayelsa community.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company says the source of an oil leak that polluted Otuokpoti communities in Bayelsa is being investigated.

The Medial Relations Manager at SPDC, Mr. Precious Okolobo, in a statement on Monday said that there was no oil leakage from its operations in the area.

He said, “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd is investigating reports of a leak around Otuokpiti community waterfront situated downstream the Ekoli River, where a section of SPDC’s Nun River – Kolo Creek Pipeline is buried.

“Preliminary site visits did not indicate any spill.

“SPDC has, however, shut the pipeline as a precautionary measure pending further investigation.”

Officials of SPDC and Nigerian Agip Oil Company, at the weekend, visited Ekole Creek near Otuokpoti in Bayelsa in search of the source of oil leak in the area.

Residents of Otuokpoti community had on Wednesday reported a massive oil leak from an oil field operated in the area.

A resident of the area, Ms. Beatrice Okatubo, said on Monday in Yenagoa that officials of SPDC and Agip jointly visited the oil fields to trace the source of oil discharged into the Ekole Creek and the adjoining farmlands.

She said, “Officials of both oil firms visited Otuokpoti to investigate the source of the oil leak and it was traced to Shell but the community had claimed that the spill came from Agip’s facility.”

Ekole Creek is around Agbura and Otuokpoti communities in Ogbia and Yenagoa local government areas of Bayelsa respectively.

The residents had said the spill resulting from the leak destroyed farmlands and aquatic lives in the communities.

The residents said that crude oil deposits from the spillage, measured about five centimetres thick on the surface of the water, and had been carried away by water current.