LOCATION: Lasuku Gbene, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Lasuku Gbene is an Ijaw community in Boma clan of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A trip to the community from the State Capital, Yenagoa, takes about two hours by speed boat through the rivers and creeks. It is situated along the River Nun, with Peremabiri and Baberegbene as close neighbours.
The community can only be accessed by boat or aircraft. The major occupations of the people are fishing and farming. ERA monitors visited the town as a result of an oil spill that occurred in the area on February 23rd 2008. The spill emanated from Agip's Brass/Tededaba pipeline which passes through their land.
On arrival at Lasuku Gbene, ERA monitors established contact with the Paramount ruler, Chief Franel Christian Akenika and the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Famous Ezekiel. According to them, the community has been disheartened because of the oil spill that destroyed their farms, fish ponds and rivulets; killing fish and other animals found in the affected area.