Maggie Andresen

Photographer

The Guardian: Nigerians could see justice over Shell oil spills after six decades

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A drone photograph of Ekpeye sw...arlier this year. July 6, 2021.

A drone photograph of Ekpeye swampland showing oil sheen on top of water nine months after a massive flood swept oil from an SPDC pipeline across their land. The trees are recovering after a large oil fire was set earlier this year. July 6, 2021.

“The water we are dri...e oil.” July 8, 2021.

“The water we are drinking, the fish we eat, everything makes me sick,” said Ankoo Anwin, an 82-year-old woman who says the environment changed drastically after the oil spill. “If the rain comes and you put a white basin under the rain, you see the whole thing black because of the oil.” July 8, 2021.

The Bomu manifold oil spill con...ain aquatic life. July 8, 2021.

The Bomu manifold oil spill continued leaking for more than two years, according to a United Nations investigation. This creek in Kebgere Dere is not directly close to the Manifold, but rains and floods pushed the still-flowing oil into the water soon after the spill began. What once held the primary source of livelihood for the community can no longer sustain aquatic life. July 8, 2021.

“Shell should pay us ...royed.” July 8, 2021.

“Shell should pay us compensation. So that we can live as normal human beings. No other thing than that,” said Felix Nkagbaranen Foroghe, a 73-year-old fisherman. “They should pay us our compensation because all our life has been destroyed.” July 8, 2021.

A stream close to the Bomu mani...n any water body. July 7, 2021.

A stream close to the Bomu manifold in Kebgere Dere shines with oil. This community has been in court since 2012, looking to hold SPDC accountable for the impact of an oil spill originating at the manifold in 2009. In their court filings, SPDC claims the damage was minimal and had no impact on any water body. July 7, 2021.

Chief Patricia Ogbonnaya speaks...ith trade skills. July 5, 2021.

Chief Patricia Ogbonnaya speaks to a group of women on the road from Ekpeye to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state. Ogbonnaya plans to open a center for women that will equip them with trade skills. July 5, 2021.

“You see fish floatin...again.” July 8, 2021.

“You see fish floating, the ones that have already died,” remembered Nukabaroi Gberekpe, a 64-year-old fisherman, of the days following the initial spill in Kegbara Dere. “Since that time, the oil spoiled the ground, and you can’t see anything [grow] again.” July 8, 2021.

A drone photograph of the Bomu ...ll began in 2009. July 8, 2021.

A drone photograph of the Bomu manifold, the storage and separation facility where the Kegbara Dere oil spill began in 2009. July 8, 2021.

A forest charred by a recent oi...stly remediation. July 5, 2021.

A forest charred by a recent oil fire on Ekpeye land in Nigeria’s Rivers state. Oil fires are a common solution to visible oil spills employed by some employees of oil companies. Affected areas are ignited to burn off oil at the topsoil level, to avoid costly remediation. July 5, 2021.

Erabanabari Kobah, an environme...n financial gain. July 8, 2021.

Erabanabari Kobah, an environmental scientist from Kegbara Dere, is representing the community in court. He was granted power of attorney by local leaders, and grew up watching oil devastate Ogoniland. Kobah has been the target of character attacks in SPDC’s litigation, which frequently claim he has “no genuine interest” in the case other than financial gain. July 8, 2021.

Some mangroves have managed to ...med with the oil. July 8, 2021.

Some mangroves have managed to recover in the creek, while others were overwhelmed with the oil. July 8, 2021.

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The Guardian: Nigerians could see justice over Shell oil spills after six decades

Copyright Maggie Andresen 2025

Updated Oct 2021

Location Port Harcourt

Topics Activism, Aerial, Civil Rights, Climate Change, Community, Conservation, Documentary, Energy, Environment, Forest, Health, Human Rights, Investigation, Justice, Media, Nigeria, Oil, Oppression, Photojournalism, Reporting, Water