By mmedia360impact
A 29-year-old resident of Bille in Rivers State, Joy Amos, has died weeks after suffering severe burns in a gas-related explosion inside her room, prompting fresh calls for urgent government intervention over persistent gas emissions in the community.
Amos died on Tuesday, September 22, following her transfer from Bille to Port Harcourt for further medical treatment, according to the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
The organisation said her death had heightened concerns over what it described as an ongoing environmental and public health emergency in Bille Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amos was severely burnt in an explosion that occurred at about 8 a.m. on September 3 at No. 18, Opu Ibiila Community, Bille. CAPPA said the blast shattered windows and set part of the building on fire.
The organisation said Amos initially received treatment at a private clinic in Bille for about nine days before she was transferred to Port Harcourt on September 12.
CAPPA said community members were told that a person identified as Dr Ndubisi Akpu, who reportedly claimed to be calling from the Ministry of Health, had indicated that the government would take over her treatment.
News of Amos’s death reached the community on Tuesday, with reports that her remains were being taken to Ogoni for burial.
CAPPA said the circumstances surrounding her death should be properly documented and independently investigated, including through an autopsy, particularly because of the environmental conditions reported around the location of the explosion.
The organisation also raised concerns about continued gas emissions at the site where the explosion occurred.
According to information received by CAPPA, residents can still hear an apparent bubbling sound beneath the cemented floor of Amos’s former room, accompanied by a noticeable gas-like odour.
The latest development comes amid months of reports of gas seepage across Bille.
CAPPA said its July 6 field visit documented gas emissions from wells, boreholes, residential compounds, waterways and school grounds. The organisation also said government investigations had detected elevated levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, as well as groundwater contamination and poor air quality.
However, CAPPA said residents were yet to receive a comprehensive public explanation of the source of the emissions or a clear emergency response plan.
The organisation said the situation had already been linked to several reported health and fire incidents in the community.
It cited the case of Mrs Tamunosiepribo Igani, who reportedly became dizzy and collapsed while walking to the waterside on September 12, sustaining a serious leg injury.
CAPPA also reported that Ms Deborah Adokiye Orlando, a teacher at State School One, Bille, reportedly collapsed while performing her duties on Tuesday morning.
Two household fires were also reported in August and September, according to the organisation.
CAPPA further expressed concern over reports that some residents were collecting the emerging gas for use in powering generators, while others were reportedly digging around their homes in search of gas outlets that could be channelled for domestic energy.
The organisation warned that such practices could expose residents to fire, explosions and possible poisoning.
CAPPA Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said Amos’s death should prompt authorities to move from what she described as a fragmented response to a coordinated emergency intervention.
“Joy Amos did not have to die,” Ibeh said, adding that the organisation believed months of warnings and reports of environmental hazards had not resulted in a comprehensive emergency plan for Bille.
CAPPA called on the Federal Government, Rivers State Government and relevant regulatory and emergency agencies to establish a coordinated response involving independent experts in environmental science, medicine, public health and emergency safety.
It also called for comprehensive hazard mapping and the evacuation of households, schools and other public facilities located in areas confirmed to be unsafe.
The organisation urged authorities to provide specialist treatment for residents affected by the reported incidents and establish free medical screening for people in the community, particularly children, pregnant women, older people and residents reporting respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal or skin-related symptoms.
CAPPA also called for the immediate suspension of unsafe gas collection and use, alongside clear public safety information and alternative electricity and cooking energy for affected households.
It demanded continuous testing of air, water and soil, as well as a community-wide system for documenting fires, explosions, illnesses and injuries.
The organisation further urged authorities to publicly identify the institutions coordinating the response and publish a timeline for investigations, medical interventions, social support and evacuation where necessary.
CAPPA said that once the source of the emissions is established, authorities should ensure appropriate remediation, compensation for affected residents and legal accountability where wrongdoing is established.
The organisation previously raised concerns over the Bille situation in its report and documentary, “Danger! Bille Is Highly Flammable,” which warned of the risks associated with persistent gas emissions in the community. CAPPA’s published material says residents have reported gas bubbling from boreholes, compounds, swamps and areas around a school since October 2025.
As investigations continue, the death of Amos has renewed calls for authorities to determine the source of the emissions and protect residents from further explosions and other hazards.
