Panic spread in Omikunle, Yemetu, Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State on Sunday after a petroleum substance suspected to be diesel was discovered in several wells.
Residents said the development was unprecedented, noting that some of the wells had been in use for more than 20 years. “We have been drinking from them for decades. Now the water is no longer safe,” a resident lamented.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the discovery, saying its officers responded to a tip-off on Saturday evening. A team led by the Divisional Police Officer in Yemetu visited the scene and found the substance.
“Some residents had already gathered with containers, apparently to collect it. The area has since been secured to prevent further risk,” the command said in a statement.
Security operatives, working with neighbourhood watch groups, cordoned off the site. The state ministries of Health, Environment, and Energy have been called in to investigate and manage the contamination.
Preliminary findings suggest the substance may have leaked from a nearby underground storage tank.
The police urged residents to remain calm and avoid using the affected wells until investigations are completed. They assured that the situation is under control and updates will be provided.
