By Emmanuel Ekebe & Michael Ilaya
Barely a month after a devastating oil blowout incident at Oil Well 14 in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, a facility own and managed by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), in Uzere, another fresh dimension of a similar incident of gaseous eruption is currently ongoing at different locations in London Base in Uweye Quarter of Uzere, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The residents of the affected area, have raised alarm that the eruption has increased in intensity and is actively spreading since when it was first noticed three days ago.
According to the Ovie of Uzere, HRM Isaac Udogri 1, who spoke to the Press at his Palace, on independence day, said, “..we woke up to witness strange and frightening developments; uncontrolled emissions of gas from the ground in countless places including residential houses and farmlands accompanied by open fire. We are no longer safe in our community”
The king stated further that “night photograph from the community shows open flames burning directly from the ground inside Uzere. This is raw gas burning in a residential area. If this fire spreads or if the gas accumulates, we might likely witness mass explosion and monumental loss of lives and property. This is a clear violation of our fundamental rights to life and healthy environment”
The Ovie then called on “the federal and state governments to declare a state of emergency in Uzere and also NOSTRA and NUPRC to immediately dispatch their emergency response team to Uzere to see first hand the danger being faced by our people”
Also reacting to the incident that was reported to have stated on September 28, 2026, the Vice President of Uzere community, Engr. Abednego Abugo, described the incident as a strange occurrence, as such has not been seen before, and called on the government and the oil company operating in the area to urgently intervene.
“We cannot say whether it is the gods that are causing the gas emission or an act of God; our lives are not safe”.
He recalled the ugly experience of the blowout in Uzere Well 14, that the company has not done any meaningful remediation over it; yet to show any form of corporate social responsibility like any sort of relief materials to the affected people, but are always using the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)as an excuse.
Speaking further, the Vice President said that as precautionary measures, he called on the company to ensure that the residents of the affected areas be relocated to safer places, engage experts to do assessment of the situation to avoid casualties.
In his reaction, the community Chairman of Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Columbus Oguname described the gaseous emission from the ground and water bubbles of gas, lightning up when fire is ignited, as an unusual situation, suggesting a likelihood of pressure underneath the ground.
On the safety measures taken to address the situation, Columbus stated that the management of the oil company operating in the community, Heritage Energy and regulators have been contacted on the incident to urgently intervene.
Speaking to the Press, Landlords in the area, including Chief (Mrs) Florence Ogueri, Anthony Ogueri, Dr. Iyomaterie Ajiri, Hon. Omuye Joan Oghenero and the Uzere Youth Chairman, Comr. James Miller and residents narrated their various ordeals ranging from health challenges caused by the gaseous emissions, sleeplessness and clamoured for quick government intervention as the intensity of the emission is increasing rapidly.
As at the time of filing this report, the operators of OML 30 JVP are yet to officially react to the development, though some of their staff were seen milling around the vicinity but refused to speak to the Press.
