A group, Social Action Nigeria, has called for the immediate evacuation of residents from areas affected by persistent gas spillage in Bille Kingdom, Rivers State. This follows the death of a woman, Joy Amos, who sustained severe burns in an explosion on September 3. Amos reportedly died on September 22 after receiving treatment in Port Harcourt. The incident has renewed calls for an independent investigation into the source of the gas emissions and the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The organisation made the demand at a press conference in Port Harcourt, where it raised concerns about the unfolding environmental and public safety issues in Bille, Degema Local Government Area. Social Action Nigeria said the latest incident followed months of reports of gas bubbling and seepage from wells, residential areas, waterways and other locations in Bille. The group also noted that previous reports by civil society organisations and media outlets had documented concerns about gas emissions in the community since 2025.
At the conference, Social Action Nigeria called on the Federal Government, Rivers State Government and relevant regulatory and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Amos’s death and make the findings public. The group also urged authorities to release relevant environmental test results and technical findings from investigations previously conducted in the community. This, it said, would help establish responsibility for the reported gas emissions.
Among its demands, Social Action Nigeria called for the immediate deployment of medical teams to Bille, provision of emergency healthcare and safe water, and the identification of temporary evacuation centres for residents in areas confirmed to be at risk. The group further urged regulators to establish responsibility for the reported gas emissions before any enforcement or legal action is taken. This, it said, would ensure that those responsible for the crisis are held accountable.
Social Action Nigeria also appealed to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and other relevant agencies to publish their findings on the reported seepage. The organisation stressed that residents should not be left exposed while investigations continue. It noted that the death of Amos had raised the urgency of resolving the crisis.
Earlier reports showed that civil society groups had warned of the potential for further explosions and called for emergency intervention in Bille. In August, a report by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) detected elevated levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide in parts of the community. Government investigations had also reported contaminated groundwater and polluted air, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
The latest demands come amid continuing calls from community representatives and environmental groups for government agencies to identify the source of the emissions, protect residents and establish appropriate remediation measures. Social Action Nigeria said the “priority should now be the protection of lives, transparent investigation of the incidents and urgent measures to reduce the risks faced by residents of Bille”. The group’s demands are aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of residents affected by the gas crisis.
Key points
- Social Action Nigeria demands emergency evacuation of residents from areas affected by gas spillage in Bille Kingdom.
- The group calls for a comprehensive investigation into the death of Joy Amos and the release of environmental test results.
- The crisis has raised concerns about the potential for further explosions and the need for urgent intervention.
