From Rhoda Godwin, Port Harcourt
At about midnight in September, a deafening explosive sound shattered the silence in Bille, a riverine community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Within moments, a house was thrown into chaos, a window was broken, and fire engulfed the building. Inside was Joy Amos, a resident, who would later die after spending nine days in hospital.
The landlady of the late Joy, recalled the terrifying incident, describing how the sound jolted them awake in the middle of the night.
According to her, the window suddenly broke open, following the explosive sound. When they rushed to investigate, they found Joy in pain as the house was on fire.
The situation was desperate. Joy was taken to a hospital, where she remained for nine days, battling the injuries she sustained before eventually dying.
Her death has left painful questions about what happened that night, what caused the explosion and fire, and whether the incident could have been prevented.
For residents of Bille, however, Joy’s story was unfolding against a wider backdrop of environmental fears, economic hardship, and concerns about their safety in a community where gas reportedly bubbles continuously in surrounding waters.
When a team of journalists visited Bille for a special documentary and reporting assignment organised by Spaces for Change, with support from the Ford Foundation, residents described a community struggling to cope with what they believe are disturbing changes in their environment.
Their accounts painted a troubling picture of a place where access to portable water, affordable food, and reliable livelihoods have become increasingly difficult.
A community living with fear
The bubbling gas in Bille’s surrounding waters was one of the most disturbing issues raised during the visit.
Residents said the phenomenon had persisted for about four years, leaving them worried about the possible consequences for their health, homes and livelihoods.
One resident, who identified herself as Abigail, spoke about the difficulties of living in an environment where she believed the effects of the gas problem had accumulated over time.
“As I dey talk, I don reach 45 (years). My (knees), e dey worry me. I no fit stand the right,” she said, describing the physical discomfort she experiences.
She and other residents expressed concerns about recurring illnesses, including what they described as frequent malaria cases, and the repeated trips they make to hospitals for treatments.
“We don dey treat malaria. Malaria now, na every week,” the resident said, explaining that people regularly visit health facilities, and return with prescribed medications.
Her account reflected the anxiety among residents who believe their environment may be affecting their well-being. However, medical investigations would be required to establish whether the reported illnesses are linked to gas emissions or other environmental factors.
For the residents, the uncertainty itself has become part of their daily burden.
Drinking water at a painful cost
In Bille, even obtaining portable water has become a struggle.
Residents said a bag of sachet water now costs as much as ₦1,200, making it increasingly difficult for households with limited incomes to depend on packaged water for their daily needs.
For some families, the alternative is well water, which they use for drinking and cooking.
One resident explained that the community had little choice but to rely on the water available to them.
“Na well water we dey drink now. We no get any other water wey we dey drink,” she said.
The same water, according to the resident, is also used to prepare meals.
“Na from there, the food we dey cook, na that water we still dey cook. So, why we no go get problem?” she asked.
Her question capture the fear and uncertainty surrounding water safety in the community.
Without independent water-quality tests, it is not possible to determine whether the wells are contaminated or whether any contamination is connected to oil and gas activities. But residents’ dependence on these sources makes testing and access to safe drinking water urgent priorities.
For a household already struggling to buy food, spending more money on drinking water means having less to meet other basic needs.
When river no longer feeds the people
The environmental concerns extend beyond water to food and livelihoods.
Residents described difficulties obtaining fish and periwinkles, while the cultivation of cassava, an important staple, has also become a concern.
According to their accounts, food items that were once available locally are becoming harder to obtain, forcing households to contend with rising costs.
One resident lamented the difficulty of finding land suitable for cassava cultivation.
“Na fine. As in, no place to plant cassava. Wetin we wan plant? Nothing,” she said, describing the conditions around her.
She also spoke about the gas problem as something that appeared to affect the surroundings of their homes.
“Our kitchen dey boil. Room dey boil. Passage dey boil,” she said, expressing her frustration with what she described as the condition of the environment.
Her words offer a glimpse into the fears of residents who believe the problem is no longer confined to the waterways, but is affecting their everyday living spaces.
For a riverine community, the consequences of declining access to fish, periwinkles, and crops can be severe. Families that depend on fishing and farming may lose both their food sources and their means of earning income.
As these resources become harder to access, households must find money to purchase food they might previously have obtained through their own labour or the surrounding natural environment.
The result is a growing struggle to meet basic needs.
Cracks in houses, questions without answers
The convener of Bille Voice, Biodeinmabo Kombonimi, also raised concerns about cracks appearing on the walls of houses in the community.
The reported damage has heightened concerns about the condition of buildings, and the safety of residents.
For families, who have invested years of savings in their homes, visible cracks can be frightening. Residents want to know what is causing the damage, and whether their houses would remain safe.
However, the cause of the cracks has not been independently established. A proper assessment by structural engineers and other relevant experts would be necessary to determine whether the damage is associated with ground movement, construction defects, vibration, or another factor.
The concerns are, nevertheless, important, particularly when considered alongside residents’ reports of bubbling gas, and the midnight explosion that preceded Joy’s death.
Whether these incidents are connected remains an unanswered question.
Establishing any connection would require a technical investigation, including an examination of the circumstances of the explosion, the source of the reported gas, and the environmental conditions around affected homes.
The burden of living amid oil wealth
Information received during the visit indicated that Bille has over 36 oil wells, although the figure requires independent verification.
For residents, the reported abundance of oil resources contrasts sharply with their struggles to obtain clean water, find food, and maintain their traditional livelihoods.
They want the relevant authorities and operators to investigate the environmental concerns, establish the source of the gas, and explain what measures are being taken to protect the community.
They also want opportunities for young people, who residents say have yet to see the benefits they expect from economic activities in their area.
The concerns raise broader questions about environmental monitoring, access to basic services, and the responsibilities of companies operating in oil-producing communities.
The relevant government agencies and oil and gas operators need to provide answers, while environmental and health assessments should establish the extent of any risks facing residents.
Where hazards are confirmed, appropriate measures must be taken to protect people, and provide access to safe water and other essential services.
Joy’s death and the search for answers
Joy’s death remains one of the most painful elements of the story. Her Landlady’s account of the midnight explosion, the fire, and her nine days in hospital provide a human face to the fears residents have expressed about their surroundings.
But the precise cause of the explosion and the circumstances that led to Joy’s death must be established through proper investigation.
The reporting visit by Spaces for Change, supported by the Ford Foundation, brought journalists face to face with residents who say they are struggling with environmental uncertainty and the daily cost of survival.
Their stories deserve more than attention. They demand investigation, transparent answers, and meaningful action.
For residents of Bille, the questions are immediate: Is their water safe? What is causing the gas to bubble? Why are houses developing cracks? What caused the explosion that preceded Joy’s death? And who will ensure that the community can live and work without fear?
Until those questions are answered, the people of Bille will continue to face the difficult task of protecting their families, while searching for explanations for the changes they say they have witnessed.
Behind the reported oil wells are families who need safe homes, clean water, affordable food, and the opportunity to earn a living.
Joy’s death is a painful reminder of what is at stake. The people of Bille deserve answers before another family is left mourning a loved one amid questions that remain unresolved.