The Oporoza Community, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, on September 14 experienced an unexpected health danger after a heavy downpour.

The people were shocked to discover that the community has been taken over by carbon residue in form of black soot littered all over the ground in the town.

The black substance, which is suspected to be residues of carbon, arising from the after-effects of polution that was washed down by the downpour, made movement difficult and caused stains all over the community.

The President of the Gbaramatu Kingdom (GYC), Comrade Shedrach Onitsha Ebikeme, lamented their experience, saying: “This is a terrible situation, something that has not happened before. It only goes to show the dangers we are in on this part of the world.” He called on the government and agencies, especially those that have to do with environmental issues to come see for themselves what is happening here and to probably collect samples for laboratory testing.

“What is happening here is a sign that we are no longer safe and that our health is in grave danger. The rivers are heavily polluted to the extent that fishing expedition is a waste of time as there are no fishes anymore. People have been suffering from hunger and starvation.

“We are calling on the government and those in authority to come to our aid and address some of the issues the kingdom has been facing. It is not a crime to be situated in an oil producing territory were others are reaping while we that are here are facing dangers. The pains we are going through because of oil is just too much as the government don’t seem to care.”

The GYC President stressed that the livelihood of the people which is fishing activities in the river is highly threatened as well as their land and air they breathe is exposing their lives into panic.

Comrade Ebikeme noted that communities under Gbaramatu clan are not safe as a result of the air people breathe caused by the soot, he calls for more stringent action to be taken against pollution by oil companies operating in the area.

He appealed to the Federal and Delta State Governments to come to their aid as well as look into the issue of building modular refinery in that part of the Niger Delta in order to curb and drastically reduce the pollution experienced in the area.

The Gbaramatu communities youth boss appealed to the Federal Government and the military to find a better way of dealing with illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta as often times burning and spilling the products into the river also causes environmental pollution leading to health hazards and epidemics outbreak.

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