From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Residents of Kafam Village, Rido community of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have vowed to drag Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporation (KRPC) before three international courts over leakage of a Hydrogen Fluoride gas, believed to be a dangerous toxic and corrosive chemical element which was accidentally emitted into the atmosphere by the staff of the Corporation.
When contacted to react to the issue, Spokesman of KRPC, Jimoh Mahmood told our Correspondent, “I am on my way to Zaria, I will get back to you”. But he didn’t get back as at the time of filing this report.
Addressing a press conference, President, Gbagyi Development Union (GDU), Ishaya Tanko Damina said leaked gas immediately polluted the air and the environment, causing farmlands to wither, while some people started convulsing, fainting and vomiting.
“We would not hesitate to take legal action in respect of the unwarranted negligence act of the above management, such action which may include approaching the ECOWAS Court of Justice at Abuja, African Court of Human and Peoples Rights at Addis Ababa and even the International Court of Justice at the Hague for the enforcement of our Rights including Right to Life and Environment
“The attention of the leadership of Gbagyi Development Union (GDU) has been drawn to the incident that occurred on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Kafam Village, Rido of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria. On that day, Hydrogen Fluoride gas—a dangerous toxic and corrosive chemical element—was accidentally emitted into the atmosphere by staff of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation (KRPC), Kaduna.
“The accident immediately polluted the air and the environment. Entire farmlands withered while some people started convulsing, fainting and vomiting.
“The Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, took responsibility for the hospitalisation and treatment of nine affected residents of Kafam on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna.
“Almost twelve days after the accident, the management of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporation has refused to respond to the health challenges posed to the residents of Kafam.
“Despite the concern displayed by federal agencies namely, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the management of KRPC insists it will act only after tests are concluded.
“The August 28, 2024 accident is not the first. Six others, including oil spills since the 1990s which resulted in devastation of farmlands and the loss of aquatic life in surrounding streams and River Romi have happened.
“The attitude of the KRPC management has been the same, i.e. that of unconcern. It has never taken steps to remedy the situation or limit the chances of recurrence. The leadership of GDU views the attitude of KRPC management as arrogant, nonchalant, irresponsible and insensitive to the accident because Hydrogen Fluoride gas is highly toxic and corrosive.
“Its impacts include withering of plants and farm crops; contamination of well water (thereby affecting underground water, streams and rivers); difficulty in breathing (which occurred when members of the commissioner’s entourage visited Kafam); and sustained greenish stooling and vomiting as occurred to the nine persons hospitalised on September 2, 2024.
“These impacts are similar to what happened in Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) when the US dropped Hydrogen bombs during World War 11. Yet, despite being aware of the magnitude and danger to human life of what happened, the management of KRPC is unconcerned.
“This is because; a release of Hydrogen Fluoride gas requires emergency response. Such response include evacuation of the area to prevent inhalation or skin contact; immediate medical attention; containment measures to be undertaken to prevent further spread and neutralisation of contaminated sites.
“The KRPC management has not addressed these or taken immediate remediation, medium-term and long-term measures to address the recurring incidence of gas leaks and oil spill in the area.
“Therefore, we demand, among other things, that the KRPC management should order immediate evacuation of the villagers to limit further exposure; commence clean-up exercise of the area and provide immediate medical care.
“Further to that, affected villagers should be decontaminated and offered effective specialist medical attention while appropriate environmental remediation should be undertaken. Despite taking long, remediation of the environment can still be done through neutralisation processes.
“Also, there should be long-time medical monitoring/surveillance of farmlands and humans to identify and manage the health effects of the accident, while surrounding communities should be educated about the dangers of Hydrogen Fluoride gas leaks and how to respond.
“Soil and water bodies should be accorded immediate and adequate attention to clean up affected the area. Finally, adequate compensation should be paid to victims and the loss of farm crops.
“Let me be clear that we believe the Gbagyi are faced with mass deaths and future birth defect and deformity engendered by the attitude of the KRPC management which is unacceptable to us. We will no longer tolerate its arrogant insensitivity and negligence even though we are peace-loving people. Presently, we are exploring all possible response measures to avoid possible mass deaths.
“While appreciating the concern of, and the action, taken by the Kaduna State Government so far, we wish to call on the international community, especially environmental groups and the Red Cross, to come to our aid. As a people, we are an endangered species faced with possible extermination through other means. We demand an unreserved apology from the management of NNPC/ KRPC within one week of this press conference.
“We would not hesitate to take legal action in respect of the unwarranted negligence act of the above management, such action which may include approaching the ECOWAS Court of Justice at Abuja, African Court of Human and Peoples Rights at Addis Ababa and even the International Court of Justice at the Hague for the enforcement of our Rights including Right to Life and Environment.”