About 27 coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State have been affected by a fresh oil spill allegedly by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited Offshore facility, in the Ibeno Local Government Area of the state.

The spill is said to have polluted the water bodies of the affected communities, killing fishes, fingerlings and other aquatic animals and seafood.

Communities in four local government areas of Ibeno, ONNA, Eket, Esit Eket, and other riverine Local Government Areas are said to have also been affected by the spillage.

In a phone interview, the Commissioner for Environment, Uno Etim Uno, said his Permanent Secretary visited the area on Monday alongside some officials of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to take samples of the spillage for proper investigation to determine whether it was actually an oil spill