LOCAL press reports on Friday said a massive oil spill has occurred on Ikevemor Island in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, threatening the livelihood of about 60 villages in the area. A representative for the residents of the affected villages, Jacob Oyanimigha, said the spill resulted from a ruptured pipeline maintenance facility owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The facility is a strategic pipeline route for crude oil flow from several stations to the company’s export terminal at Forcados. Reports said hundreds of boats and fishing gear were trapped in the messy blackish-brown crude oil that has taken over the coastline and spread across several kilometres. “Our children are sick. There is no hospital here, no clinic. So you can see that we are in great danger if this spill continues for the next few weeks,” the representative said. Some officials of Shell were said to have visited the area immediately the spill occurred about three weeks ago. – Pana