A devastating gas eruption in Bille Kingdom, Rivers State, has plunged the community into a humanitarian crisis. Since November 2025, high-pressure natural gas has been emitting from water facilities, wells, and the surrounding river, contaminating drinking water and polluting the air.
In a statement signed by Emeka Idika Kalu, head of the Media Unit, Office of the Chairman of IYC, Eastern Zone, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt
Residents face severe health issues, economic hardship, and restrictions on cooking and lighting fires due to explosion risks. Fishing, the primary livelihood, has been devastated, and public schools have been closed. “Life has become unbearable,” say distraught residents.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) demands urgent government intervention, warning of imminent gas explosion and extinction risk. “We won’t allow harm to come to any Ijaw community,” says Amb. Prince Datolu Sukubo, IYC Eastern Zone Chairman.
Despite efforts, Federal Government and NNPC Limited have been unresponsive. Chief Dagogo Temebo appeals for aid: “Come to our aid before it’s too late.” The IYC urges Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo to visit Bille and take concrete steps to address the crisis .
According to IYC Bubbles of high-pressure natural gas could be visibly seen emitting from potable water facilities and wells, as well as from the surrounding river within the community.
A high-powered IYC delegation led by the Chairman of the Eastern Zone Chairman, Amb. Prince Datolu Sukubo alongside other leaders of the Group outside zone, expressed deep concern over the plight of the people of Bille when they visited the community for an on-the-spot inspection of impacted sites of the gas eruption.
Some distraught Bille women told the IYC delegation that the gas emission has severely taken a toll on public health and socio-economic activities since its outbreak four months ago, forcing the closure of some public schools in the area as a precautionary safety measure.
They said the continuous consumption of water contaminated by the gas has exposed many households to severe health conditions such as cholera and other water-borne diseases.
The women lamented that the devastating impact of the gas eruption on fishing activities in the area, the primary source of livelihood of the people, has drastically reduced the yield and income of fishermen and women, thereby exacerbating economic hardship in the community.
The women stated that the situation has also triggered a sharp increase in the cost of living in the area, making it difficult for most households to afford basic necessities.
They say life has become unbearable for many residents of Bille, forcing some families to temporarily move out of the community for safety and better living conditions.
The women also expressed frustration and anxiety over the restrictions imposed on them when cooking or lighting fire in their houses due to the high risk of gas explosion in the area.
“The continuous delay by the relevant authorities to respond positively and avert an impending gas explosion in the community has further exacerbated the situation”.
“We are still appealing to them to come to our aid before the situation becomes worse,” Chief Temebo stated.
Chief Temebo also thanked the delegation of IYC Eastern Zone for their concern over the plight of the people of Bille, appealing to them to use their platform to amplify the situation of the people and mount pressure on the relevant authorities to intervene and alleviate their suffering thereby averting any possible calamity in the area.
He emphasized that the situation demands decisive intervention from all stakeholders, including the Federal, State, and Local Governments, NNPC Limited, oil companies operating in the area, and regulatory agencies, to safeguard lives and properties in Bille.
Prince Datolu urged the Rivers State Government to declare a public health emergency in Bille to prevent further deterioration of public health in the area due to continuous inhalation of the hazardous gas and consumption of the highly contaminated water.
He particularly appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to come to the aid of the people of Bille, while also appealing to him to prevail on the Federal Government and NNPC Limited to respond to the cry of the people without further delay.
“Alternative source of drinking water, medical care, and palliatives must be provided as temporary measures to alleviate the suffering of the people of Bille pending a permanent solution to the gas eruption” he stated.
The IYC Chairman of the Eastern Zone, Amb. Prince Datolu Sukubo also issued a stern warning that if their demands are not met, the group will shut down all oil and gas operations in the area to protect the people of Bille Kingdom from the devastating effects of the gas eruption.
He emphasized that while the IYC fully supports effort of the Federal Government to maintain the existing peace, security and stability in the Niger Delta region, which is crucial for increased oil production, it will not allow any harm to come to any Ijaw community or suffer neglect and deprivation due to the failure of government agencies or officials.
“The stance of IYC is not confrontation with the government and other relevant authorities, but rather a call to action to address the urgent needs of the people of Bille, who are currently faced with an existential threat to their lives and existence of the ancient Kingdom due to the rising gas emission in the area” Prince Datolu clarified.
The leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Eastern Zone of IYC, Amb. Prince Datolu Sukubo, also called on the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, to visit Bille community to gain firsthand knowledge of the extent of the gas eruption, with a view to taking concrete steps in the short and long term in liaison with NNPC Limited and other relevant authorities to address the problem and alleviate the sufferings of the affected people.
He stated that such a visit would rekindle the hope of the people, bring succour to them, and reassure them that the government is sensitive to their plight.
