By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative has officially called on government authorities to institute an immediate and thorough investigation into the death of Joy Amos, a resident of the Bille community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The call comes in the wake of her tragic passing, which stemmed from severe complications suffered during a devastating gas explosion that rocked the coastal community some time ago.
Addressing members of the press in Port Harcourt, the Coordinator of the Centre, Barrister Courage Nsirimovu, formally confirmed the death of Amos and expressed deep concern over the persistent environmental hazards in the region.
Nsirimovu urged state authorities and relevant regulatory bodies to conduct a comprehensive autopsy to establish the precise medical cause of her death and bring clarity to the unfortunate incident.
“We are urging the government to conduct an immediate autopsy to determine the true cause of her death,” Nsirimovu stated during the briefing. “It is also critical that the government puts in place robust, concrete measures to prevent further gas leakages that continue to destroy the livelihoods, health, and general well-being of our people.”
Prior to her passing, the late Joy Amos had been receiving specialized medical treatment fully funded by the Rivers State Government following widespread public outcry and advocacy campaigns spearheaded by civil society organizations and media outlets highlighting her critical condition.
Community leaders and rights advocates continue to demand urgent environmental remediation in Bille, warning that without decisive regulatory intervention to fix leaking gas pipelines, local livelihoods and public safety remain severely threatened.
