-Akanimo Sampson
Prospects for an enduring truce between the Ogoni people and the Anglo-Dutch oil and gas major, Shell, are still not appearing bright.
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) on Monday took on the oil company again, claiming that a toxic dump site belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has been uncovered in K-Dere community.
Speaking in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Fegalo Nsuke, MOSOP Publicity Secretary said samples from the site had been tested in a United Kingdom laboratory and the results have confirmed the toxicity of the site.
Nsuke said Ogoni leaders have been briefed by former MOSOP President Ledum Mitee, on the situation in K-Dere where a toxic dump belonging to Shell had been uncovered. ‘’We have also visited the site to see things for ourselves’’, Nsuke said
Shell had allegedly buried the wastes in the Ogoni community for years, but intense heat forced the buried substance to become exposed late last year prompting community investigation.
Attempts by Shell to allegedly cover up were said to have been prevented by local dwellers who insisted on an independent investigation.
Samples were taken to a United Kingdom laboratory and the results confirmed the toxicity of the buried substance.
‘’Shell is a killer,’’ the MOSOP spokesman remarked during the visit to the site in K-Dere, pointing out that the oil major will be made to pay for her crimes in Ogoniland.
MOSOP said the oil company clearly destroyed Ogoniland intentionally, noting that Shell never imagined that local people will someday rise to protect their future against a wicked and conscienceless multi-national and the racist practice it has enshrined it its operations in Ogoniland.
