The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC) has called for urgent intervention by government and relevant authorities over a persistent gas eruption in Bille Kingdom, warning that the community faces the risk of a possible explosion if swift action is not taken.

The affected community, Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, has reportedly been experiencing the emission of highly flammable gas from both land and beneath surrounding waters since November 2025. According to the group, the gas discharge has polluted the atmosphere and contaminated sources of drinking water within the island community.

A delegation of the IYC Eastern Zone led by its Chairman, Prince Datolu Sukubo, visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment and described the situation as a serious environmental and public health threat. Members of the delegation reported seeing bubbles of high-pressure natural gas escaping from wells, potable water facilities and nearby rivers.

Residents, particularly women in the community, told the delegation that the situation has severely affected public health and economic activities. They said several schools had been temporarily closed as a precaution, while the consumption of contaminated water has exposed residents to illnesses such as Cholera and other water-borne diseases.

The women also lamented that fishing — the primary source of livelihood in the area — had been badly affected by the gas eruption, reducing catches and worsening economic hardship. They added that the crisis has increased the cost of living in the community, forcing some families to temporarily relocate for safety.

A member of the Bille Council of Chiefs, Chief Dagogo Temebo, accused relevant authorities of failing to respond adequately despite being aware of the situation. He said appeals to the Federal Government, the NNPC Limited and other oil companies operating in the area had yet to yield concrete action.

Speaking during the visit, Sukubo warned that Bille was on the brink of an imminent gas explosion and urged authorities to act quickly to avert a disaster. He called on the Rivers State Government to declare a public health emergency in the community and provide alternative drinking water, medical support and relief materials for affected residents.

He also appealed to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, to visit the community to assess the situation firsthand and work with NNPC Limited and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution.

Sukubo warned that failure by authorities to address the crisis could compel the IYC to shut down oil and gas operations in the area to safeguard the lives of residents.

He, however, stressed that the council’s position was not confrontational but aimed at drawing urgent attention to the plight of the people of Bille and preventing a potential environmental and humanitarian disaster.