Oyo Govt Says Diesel Not Crude Oil Was Found In Ibadan Well

The Oyo State Government has clarified that diesel, not crude oil, was discovered in a polluted well in the Yemetu area of Ibadan North.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a statement on Thursday, said a government investigation confirmed that the 20-year-old well was contaminated with diesel. Security operatives recovered about 250 litres of the substance.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources launched a three-day probe after receiving a petition on September 8 over suspected water pollution at a house in Yemetu Igosun. Findings revealed the well, which had served the community for decades, was suddenly polluted within six hours.

Officials inspected a nearby telephone mast located less than three metres from the well but found no evidence linking it to the contamination. Authorities suspect the pollution may have been caused by foul play, citing the community’s history of unrest.

To support affected households, the government supplied 5,000 litres of potable water and evacuated the contaminated water for proper treatment and disposal. The well is now undergoing natural remediation.

The state also directed the mast owners to provide a borehole for the community as part of their corporate social responsibility. Security agencies have been tasked with intensifying investigations.

The government urged residents to avoid spreading unverified claims that could trigger panic, assuring the public of its commitment to safeguarding health, lives and the environment.