GPS Coordinates:  For Koluama 1 community: Elev 9m, N04°28.301’, E005°46.511’, About 300 metres to the burning site: Elev 9m, N04°21.984’, E005°46.360’

Koluama 1 and Koluama 2 are Ijaw communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at the tip of the Atlantic Ocean. The people are mostly fisherfolks that derive their livelihood from the Ocean. ERA/FoEN Field monitors were in the community [Koluama 1] on the 18th of January, following information about a Chevron Gas Wellhead that exploded while a rig was working at the site on 16th January 2012.
When monitors arrived at the community, Chairman, Koluama Council of Chiefs, Chief Christian Munghanbofa-Akpele confirmed the incident and gave approval for some youths to lead the visitors to the site of interest in the Atlantic Ocean. Some testimonies and observations follow below.

TESTIMONIES
Chief Christian Munghanbofa-Akpele [Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Koluama 1]
I want to say it is a welcome development and thank you for associating with us at this trying moment. We are a peaceful people and, maybe that is why Chevron is taking undue advantage of us. I say so because mere moving through this community from the waterside to my house you must have notice something very unique about us; we are a fishing people. It was about 5am on the 16th of January, 2012 when we heard the explosions. The whole community became wide awake with panic. As the explosion continued our houses were vibrating, even the ground. It was later we discovered the source of the explosion was from the facility of our tenant, Chevron. And, since that moment till now there is a huge fire raging on. While we are very much concerned about other environmental catastrophes, our immediate fear now is the impact the incident has on our livelihood and health. Owing to the toxic fluid spreading from the burning site, fishes are dying in great numbers in the ocean. And, that is part of our source of fish. Apart from the dead fish, we are even scared of eating those that may be caught alive because of the pollutant in the environment. Even without being told you should know our lives are now endangered.

Continuing, the Chief said:…And you can imagine the distance between our community and the state capital, Yenagoa. The fastest speedboat will take you about three hours to get to Yenagoa, in case of serious medical attention. This is also our concern because we don’t have any health facility around. Let me go into a little history. Chevron came first in 1953 with seismic operation. And the explosives they used then led to the dislocation of ancient Koluama. We were settled by the coast. But because of the effects of the vibration, our ancient community gave way easily to the Ocean. That was why we relocated to this present site. Koluama 2 is a little further inside. Some of the people you see here were not born then. It was ten years or so later, in 1963 that the company struck oil here and since then they have remained our tenants till date. What the company is taking there are the fossil of our forefathers. And they call it offshore, continuing to deny us any benefit from their operations. If we have been benefiting at least as you came you would have noticed it yourself. The community is grossly neglected and now, even our means of livelihood and health are threatened. We suffered a similar thing in 1980 when there was another major oil spill from Funiwa 5; just about 300 metres from the site that is on fire now; the Apoi North. Must we continue to have the negative impacts from Chevron’s operation in our environment; without corresponding benefits?

This is injustice and we want the authorities to come to our aid. The federal, state and local government should compel Chevron to reverse their negative attitude towards our communities. Right now our people are avoiding the ocean, where they ordinary go for fishing on daily basis. The whole Bayelsa State and beyond knows that this community is a supplier of fish. In this connection, let me say that we are surprised that since this explosion occurred we are not seen any Chevron or Government Official visiting us and to look for ways of addressing the grave environmental impact we are confronted with. I would use this medium to call on Chevron to come and put off the poisonous flames, stop the flow and spread of equally toxic fluid from the Gas well and clean up the environment. The company and government should send us relief material which should include related drugs. Chevron should act fast before greater harm is done to us and the environment.
Anna Orumo
We are not happy at what is happening to our environment. ERA/FoEN should tell Chevron to come and stop this thing that is threatening our health and livelihood. If you come here in the night you will notice that the night life has also been impacted as everywhere is orange-red. And, we cannot go to fishing as before because of this incident.

Doris Okorodudu
When I heard some visitors have come to the community in respect of the raging fire at Chevrons Apoi North I thought it was the company officials. I had the intention to tell them my mind. This thing that happened few days ago and is still continuing to threaten us. It has stopped some of us from going to fish in the ocean and, that means a lot to us. We are known for fishing and when you take that away from us, what else do you want us to do? We are angry and Chevron should know this. Let them come and stop the pollution and clean our environment. We must be compensated too….

OBSERVATION/CONCLUSION:
From the Koluama River, the huge flames could be sighted deep in the Atlantic Ocean. The Koluama River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. As ERA/FoEN was led into the Ocean and towards the towering flames from Chevron’s Apoi North, the other sign that was first noticed was that the environment has suffered some kind of pollution going by the sheen seen on the surface of the water. This sheen later changed to a very thick colour that looked like a carpet or maps drawn on the surface of the water. There were dead fish floating and some in throes of death; struggling to stay alive.  Two Naval gunboats were seen at a considerable distance from each other. One of the big gunboats later turned towards the direction of the speedboat taking ERA field monitors to the site of interest. Noticing danger, occupants of the speedboat had to raise their hands. After observing the approaching speedboat for some minutes, the naval gunboat sailed off in another direction. Apart from the naval gunboats, only the huge flames were alive in the environment. The Funiwa 5 platform was also sighted about 300 metres away from the burning Apoi North Gas Well Head of Chevron which prompted the visit by ERA/FoEN. Some bottles of the pollutant on the surface of the Ocean were collected as sample. It was noticed that the dark coloured pollutant that has spread as far as the eyes can see, was moving towards the cost. Community folks were noticeably worried and expecting action from Chevron and government.
ERA DEMANDS:
1    Chevron and government officials visit the site and impacted community to assess damage caused; using experts to ascertain the true impact and the pollutant in the water that is destroying aquatic lives now.
2    Chevron takes immediate steps to contain the spread of the pollutant on the water.
3    Chevron should not only immediately stop the raging flames, but clean up the pollution it has caused the environment.
4    Chevron and the government should send relief materials to all communities impacted by the pollution and immediately move to site and allay the fears of the communities.

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