By Ojugbele Omotunde
Residents of Ezuma Village in Aro-Ajatakiri, located in the Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia, are fervently calling upon the state government to address the environmental crisis they face due to contaminated river water.
Community leader Chief Godwin Nwosu voiced these concerns during an interview held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in Aro-Ajatakiri.
The predicament unfolded when the Umuajata Community in Olokoro Umuahia discovered on January 23 that their primary source of drinking water, the river, had been contaminated by dead fish and animals.
In response, the community staged protests, prompting the World Health Organization to collect samples of the river’s sand and water for examination.
The government has since prohibited access to the polluted river, creating significant challenges for residents in obtaining water for their household and drinking needs.
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Chief Nwosu and the community are now urging the government to intervene by drilling boreholes, providing a safe and alternative water source for the affected populace. The plea is a proactive measure to prevent further utilization of the contaminated stream.
Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, the Abia Commissioner for Environment, addressed the issue on Tuesday, acknowledging the community’s complaint.
He announced that the government is actively collecting water samples to investigate the cause of the pollution.
This swift response indicates the government’s commitment to resolving the environmental crisis at hand.
Chief Nwosu expressed gratitude for the government’s prompt attention to the river pollution issue during Orji Uzor-Kalu’s second tenure, even though there were no reported results.
He now calls for another swift investigation, emphasizing the need for effective measures to prevent future incidents and ensure the well-being of the community.
The residents eagerly await tangible actions that will safeguard their environment and water sources.
