Abia probes contamination of community stream

The Abia State Government has expressed worry as a community stream in Aro Ajatakiri in Ajata-na-Igu Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state became coloured and fishes in the stream and ponds were found dead in many areas.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the state government has consequently issued a health alarm, advising the community to desist from using the water until after full investigation.

A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, on Sunday, read in full: “It has come to the notice of the Abia State Government through the Ministry of Environment, that the Aro Ajatakiri Community stream situate and lying at Aro Ajatakirt, in Ajate-na-Igu Autonomous Community in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State has been contaminated and unfit for human consumption and use.

“In furtherance of this report of the above stated health hazard, the Ministry of Environment, Abia State wishes to inform the members of the said community and the general public to desist henceforth from making further use of the community stream, pending the investigation and feasibility study of the stream and its area which is currently being carried out by the state Ministry of Environment.

“Please be guided accordingly and ensure total compliance.”

Explaining further on the cause of the contamination, Ogbonna said, “Investigation is still on. We want to establish it. We don’t want to base it on suspicion. The team investigating it is already doing that.

“The water colour changed to something else that is not what it used to be. The investigating team went there and interacted with the community members who informed them that fish were dying in that stream and some fish ponds were affected by their fish dying.

“So, by that, the water has been contaminated and we are trying to establish the source of contamination and what is likely to be wastes from companies around. We want to be very meticulous in what we are doing to enable us to pin down the source of contamination based on proper investigation.”

When contacted, the traditional ruler of the community, King Larry Agwu, said he heard about it a day earlier stating that he had called a stakeholder from the village who couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the contamination, stating however that his investigation Sunday pointed towards fishermen who use Gamalin 20 to fish in the stream, adding, “this is the little that I know.”

All efforts to get the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, on the preparedness of the health ministry to handle the issues, were not possible.