- The story of
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The leak occurred in a forest named Olumogbogbo, in a type of creek that is actually swamp. I saw raw oil coming up where the Shell pipelines were. Oil floated on the water of the creek and covered our fish ponds, fields and crops.
- Support the Nigerian people. Join the 500 Club
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Become a member of the 500 Club. Be one of the 500 concerned people to support us in our legal case against pollution by Shell. In late 2008 Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Mileudefensie) brought this case before the court, together with four Nigerian farmers who had suffered damages. Shell has already been found guilty several times in Nigeria for damage it has caused, but often the judgements have not been executed. Four Nigerian farmers have therefore summoned Shell to appear before a Dutch court. Will you give them your support?
The story of Chief Barizaa Tete Dooh
Chief Eric Dooh. Foto: Ingrid de Groot
Where there’s oil, there’s fire
In September 2004, a leak occurred along the Trans-Niger pipeline, which is owned by Shell. The spilled oil streamed from the leak into the creeks. After that we noticed a lot of smoke coming from the forest; a large fire quickly developed. It spread out over the oil slick in rapid tempo, and the whole creek was ablaze.
We gathered together a group of people as quickly as possible to take up contact with Shell. Shell came here the following day with firemen, police officers and soldiers. For three days they tried to put out the fire, but when they were unable to do so, they simply let the fire burn itself out and all the mangrove trees were burned.
Everything lost
Because of the spill, I’ve lost everything. The embankments around my fish ponds were destroyed by the fire, so oil streamed into my ponds and killed all my fish. The five canoes I owned burned, my cassava farm burned down and the trees I had planted have gone up in smoke. I have nothing left. All the money I saved, all my hard work, it was all for nothing. Because I’m already involved in other cases against Shell, I don’t have any money left to bring a new case against Shell now.
Mess
I want Shell to clean up the mess and pay suitable compensation. They should also pay my children compensation, because Shell has taken away the opportunity for me to teach them how to farm.
How can you help?
Proceeding with this legal case is expensive and we therefore ask for your financial support. Your support is of great importance for the region and its residents.
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