In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said findings from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources confirmed that the substance found in the well was diesel, not crude oil.
According to Oyelade, the ministry carried out a three-day investigation after receiving a petition on September 8 about suspected water pollution at a house in Yemetu Igosun.
“Findings showed that a well, which had served residents for nearly 20 years without contamination, was suddenly polluted with diesel that completely covered the water surface. About 250 litres of the substance were later recovered by security operatives,” the statement read.
Investigators also examined a nearby telephone mast located less than three metres from the well but found no evidence linking it to the contamination. Eyewitnesses suggested that the pollution occurred within six hours, fueling suspicions of foul play in the area, which has a history of unrest.
To cushion the impact on the affected household, the Oyo State Water Corporation supplied 5,000 litres of potable water. The contaminated water was evacuated by accredited waste contractors, while the well undergoes natural remediation.
The government further directed the mast owners to provide a borehole for the community as part of their corporate social responsibility, while security agencies intensify investigations.
Reassuring residents, the state government reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and the environment, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified claims capable of causing panic and social tension.
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