Scores of families have been rendered homeless following a recent gas explosion in Urua Essien Etuk village, Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Although there have been no reports of deaths or severe injuries, villagers expressed concerns over the explosion, which caused structural damage to their homes and polluted the environment.

The village head, Eteidung Godwin George, revealed that the toxic gases released from the explosion had caused him to develop cancer in one of his legs.

The explosion reportedly originated from a pipeline facility operated by British Oil and Gas Exploration Limited (BOGEL), which began operations in May 2024 at Rig 15 Ete-04.

Eteidung George said: ?I am currently suffering from cancer of the leg through an open wound which I contracted the cancerous virus from the village stream/river that BOGEL dumped without considering the side effects to the people.

?My people are helpless. The explosion has also caused untold hardship to the people as their farmlands; streams/rivers which remain the only sources of livelihood are badly affected. Many of us have health challenges because of the carelessness of BOGEL,? he said.

Eteidung George decried the insensitivity and poor treatment meted out to them by BOGEL, saying that the company has blatantly neglected them and refused to pay them compensation for the damages.

He appealed to Governor Umo Eno to wade into the matter to give them succour and healthy living.

The youth leader and the women leader in the village, Mr. Udeme Love Lawrence and Mrs Uduak Aniefiok Udoh respectively confirmed that the BOGEL gas explosion has brought hardship to them.

Meanwhile, officers of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps visited the company last Thursday to ascertain the rate of damages caused by the gas explosion, following the petition by the community. (The Nation)

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