- Residents of Bille community in Rivers State are facing a severe health crisis due to suspected methane leaks that have contaminated drinking water and made the air flammable.
- Air-quality tests conducted by NOSDRA revealed methane levels 10,000 times higher than normal background levels in certain areas.
- Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to identify the source of the leak, which is located near infrastructure formerly operated by Shell.
Amnesty International has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government regarding a worsening environmental disaster in the Bille coastal community of Rivers State.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the human rights organization is calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into a series of mysterious gas leaks that have plunged the community into a state of panic and ill health.
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The situation first came to light in October 2025, when local fishermen noticed unusual bubbling in the mangrove swamps and rivers, accompanied by a pungent sulphurous odor.
Since then, the phenomenon has spread into the heart of the community.
Residents have reported that the air around these bubbling sites is easily ignitable, indicating a high concentration of flammable gas.
Isa Sanusi, Country Director for Amnesty International Nigeria, described the reports as “harrowing,” noting that the leaks are already contaminating the town’s primary drinking water sources.
The health impact is already being felt, with reports of school children falling ill and experiencing persistent vomiting due to the toxic environment.
“The government must immediately identify the source of the leak and stop it, or take other measures to secure the community from a potentially catastrophic incident,” Sanusi stated.
The suspected leak sites are situated near oil and gas installations, including pipelines and wells previously operated by Shell.
While Shell divested its onshore Nigerian assets in 2025 and maintains it no longer operates in the area, Amnesty International insists that companies cannot simply walk away from environmental liabilities.
Bennett Okpoki, Chairman of the Bille Council of Chiefs, expressed deep frustration over the perceived government inaction.
Despite preliminary tests by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) confirming dangerously high methane levels, concrete remedial steps have yet to be taken.
The unfolding crisis in Bille is a grim reminder of the long-standing environmental struggles in the Niger Delta.
As the community awaits a full trial in 2027 regarding previous pollution cases against oil majors, the current methane leak represents a new and immediate threat to life that residents say cannot wait for a courtroom resolution.
