Niger Delta Environmental Justice Lawyers’ Network (NDEJLN) has demanded immediate emergency intervention in Bille Kingdom, Rivers, following the death of Miss Joy Amos from burns sustained in a gas explosion in her residence.

Joy Amos died after suffering severe burns in the September 3, 2026 explosion at Bille, Degema Local Government Area, with the group accusing government agencies and oil operators of failing to act on repeated warnings about hazardous gas seepages in the community.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and Secretary, Courage Nsirmovu, the network described the incident as the consequence of what it called prolonged institutional inaction over environmental and public safety hazards in the area.

The lawyers said the explosion was preceded by more than a year of reports of volatile gas seepages and hazardous emissions allegedly emanating from the soil, waterways and residential areas of Bille Kingdom.

They said community members, scientists and civil society organisations had repeatedly raised concerns over the presence of methane gas and other hazards, but alleged that regulatory intervention had been inadequate.

According to the group, members of the network who undertook a fact-finding mission to Bille on September 17 observed extensive ecological degradation, including polluted waterways, fire explosions and hazardous gas emissions.

The network also recalled that a Federal Government delegation visited the community in July and promised immediate intervention and emergency infrastructure, but said the commitments had not translated into effective action before the fatal explosion.

“The September 3, 2026 explosion was the predictable outcome of this systemic failure,” the group said.

The lawyers consequently declared the situation in Bille a “community emergency”, arguing that the crisis had moved beyond an environmental concern to a human rights and public safety issue.

They demanded an independent forensic investigation, including a full medical autopsy and inquiry into Amos’ death, to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion and determine liability.

The group also called for the immediate deployment of specialised technical teams to identify, isolate and permanently seal the source of the gas seepage.

It further demanded the temporary evacuation of residents in affected areas and the provision of potable water, relief materials and emergency healthcare to the community.

Beyond the immediate response, the lawyers called for a comprehensive ecological remediation programme and a public health impact study to determine the effects of prolonged exposure to pollutants and hazardous gases on residents.

The group also demanded compensation for the family of Amos and other persons affected by the environmental crisis.

“The time for administrative promises has passed,” the lawyers declared, urging the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to take immediate action.

They warned that continued failure to isolate the source of the emissions could expose more residents to serious health and safety risks.

The forum said the Bille crisis should serve as a trigger for urgent intervention in other Niger Delta communities facing persistent oil and gas pollution, stressing that the protection of affected communities required “immediate, decisive intervention.” (Nigerian Tribune)