By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called for urgent intervention over a prolonged crude oil spill reportedly affecting communities around the OML 42 oil-producing area in Delta State.

The development followed a protest led by the IYC Worldwide President, Dr Doubra Collins Okotete, in Odidi and Batan communities on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

During the protest, the group ordered the shutdown of an OML 42 flowstation in Odidi, demanding that the reported pollution be contained and the affected environment cleaned up.

According to the IYC, the spill has persisted since February 16, 2026, with crude allegedly spreading through waterways in the Odidi and Batan axis towards the Gbaramatu and Ogulagha rivers.

The council claimed that the pollution had negatively affected aquatic life, farmlands and fishing activities, thereby putting pressure on the livelihoods of residents in the affected communities.

Okotete alleged that equipment failure was responsible for the incident, claiming that some pipelines had become outdated. He also accused Heritage Oil Nigeria Limited, identified as the operator of the flowstation in the report, of failing to adequately contain the spill through repairs or replacement of damaged facilities.

Addressing workers at the facility, the IYC president said the continued environmental impact required immediate attention from the operator and relevant government agencies.

The Chairman of Odidi Federated Community, Truston Gbenekama, also spoke about the difficulties faced by residents since the reported spill began, saying repeated appeals for assistance had not produced the expected response.

The IYC has consequently called for prompt cleanup of the affected areas, compensation for communities and residents whose livelihoods have been impacted, as well as greater regulatory attention to the incident.

The development comes amid wider calls from Ijaw youth leaders for increased transparency in the handling of oil spills and stronger protection for communities hosting petroleum operations in the Niger Delta.