In Nigeria, residents of the Niger Delta say another massive oil spill is poisoning their land and water and threatening their livelihoods. The latest spill began in southern Bayelsa state on November 1, after a high-pressure oil well ruptured, spewing noxious fumes into the air and sending yellow-brown clumps of waste into the nearby mangrove forests and surrounding river. Residents say the spill has killed off fish and other wildlife and forced them to evacuate their homes.
Benson Daniel: “We are now sick because of this gas exploration. We can’t cook in our house because we are scared we may start a fire. Just see how this area is.”