Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to urgently investigate hazardous gas leaks in Bille, a coastal community in the Niger Delta, warning that residents’ lives are at risk.
Fishermen first reported bubbling water and a sulfurous smell in a mangrove swamp near Bille in October 2025. Within a week, similar leaks appeared in other parts of the town, with some residents noting that the air above the bubbles could be ignited. The area is near oil and gas infrastructure previously operated by Shell but later sold to Nigerian companies.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s country director, said the leaks have contaminated drinking water and forced children at a local school to relocate after falling ill. “The government must identify the source of the leak and stop it, or take measures to protect the community from a potentially catastrophic incident,” Sanusi said.
Tests by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency in December 2025 reportedly found methane levels 10,000 times higher than normal at one site. Bille Council of Chiefs Chairman Bennett Okpoki said residents are desperate for action, urging international pressure if necessary.
Amnesty also called on oil companies to cooperate with authorities to determine if their infrastructure contributed to the leak. Shell has stated it no longer owns onshore oil operations in the Niger Delta. A trial concerning environmental damage by Shell is scheduled for 2027.
