Oyo Government Breaks Silence On Rumoured Crude Oil Find In Yemetu

The Oyo State Government has refuted viral claims on social media suggesting that crude oil was discovered in a well at Yemetu, Ibadan. According to Ireporter Online, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources clarified in a statement on Wednesday that investigations revealed the substance found in the well was diesel, not crude oil.

The clarification followed a three-day investigation that commenced on September 8, 2025, after the ministry received a petition over suspected water pollution in Yemetu Igosun. Officials disclosed that a well, which had provided safe water to residents for nearly two decades, was suddenly contaminated with diesel covering the water’s surface. Security operatives later recovered about 250 litres of the substance.

Investigators also inspected a nearby telephone mast situated less than three metres from the affected well but confirmed there was no evidence linking the facility to the contamination. Community reports indicated the pollution occurred within a six-hour window, heightening suspicions of foul play in an area known for recurring unrest.

To mitigate the impact, the Oyo State Water Corporation supplied 5,000 litres of potable water to affected households. The contaminated water has been evacuated for treatment and disposal by accredited waste contractors, while the well is expected to undergo natural remediation.

The ministry further directed the mast owners to provide a borehole for the community as part of their corporate social responsibility, while security agencies continue their investigations.

Reassuring residents, the government reiterated its commitment to public health and environmental safety, warning against the spread of unverified or sensational reports capable of inciting unnecessary panic or social disorder.