Members of Sukuna Community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have demanded that Chevron Nigeria Limited pay them N5bn damages following the alleged explosion of the oil firm’s Ojumole Oil Well near their community.
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The community members, who claimed that the oil well exploded and went up in flames on April 18, 2019, said they were severely affected as all the efforts by the company to stop the fire did not succeed until about two months after.
They claimed that apart from the shock they suffered from the sudden loud explosion and the thick smoke that enveloped their community, their farmlands and water were also allegedly polluted in a bid by Chevron to put out the fire.
In a pre-action letter dated July 30, 2019 written to Chevron through their lawyer, Ige Asemudara, the community members demanded that the oil company should pay them N5bn for their loss, failing which they would go to court.
They also demanded a comprehensive medical examination of every member of the community and treatment of any ailment which any of the community member might have suffered from the incident.
They also demanded that Chevron undertake an immediate clean-up of their environment.
The lawyer said the community briefed him that “despite the enormity of this unfortunate occurrence, your company was very nonchalant, looked away and insensitively delayed any intervention making it possible for the fire to spread to other oil wells within the Ojumole field.”
He said, “Our clients suffered great discomfort, material losses, health hazards, pains, imposed darkness, environmental pollution and degradation for well over two months as the fire raged until it was put out at about 1:00pm on the 30th day of June 2019. As we write, the bad effect of the injurious fire still lingers.
“Whilst our clients were counting their losses directly occasioned by the avoidable fire, they were stunned that in a bid to put out the fire, more havoc was wrecked on our clients’ farms, ponds, compound, field and other parts of the environment as the debris and remains evacuated from the burnt field were deposited on them.
“Without the permission of our clients or any lease or sale in that regard, your company erected a huge platform on our clients’ land upon which your helicopters now land and you do other activities thereon.
“Irked by these sad developments, our clients made several efforts to communicate with your company in order to be able to find an amicable and just way of resolving the issues, it was all without success. Sadly, your company has failed, refused or perhaps neglected to approach our clients for a solution to the problems created by your actions and to restore our clients to the healthy and happy condition of life they enjoyed before your illicit acts.”
Asemudara said the community gave Chevron 14 days to meet their demands, failing which they would sue.
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