Bayelsa-based lawyer, Barr. Timila Jenkins Okponipere has raised an alarm over imminent outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases in some Bayelsa communities.
Okponipere made his position known following the pollution of the entire coastline of Brass and surrounding environment with the blood of a dead decomposing Whale which has washed ashore.
DAILY POST recalls that last weekend, a whale of about 30ft washed ashore Ijaw kiri community water front in Brass Local Government Area.
Neighbouring communities of Odioma and Okpoama were said to have also rushed to the shore to partake in the feast of butchering the whale for meat, which took about three days.
The lawyer, who frowned at the feasting of the dead aquatic animals by indigenes of those communities without first establishing knowledge of what killed it, urged government to cordon off the area and immediately commence the process of evacuation of the remains of the dead sea mammal.
According to him, “About three days ago, a gigantic sea mammal, found itself stranded ashore at one of the fishing settlements on Brass waterfront in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State. The sea mammal is widely believed to be one of the rare species of Whales which are gradually going extinct.
“In civilised societies, the helpless Whale would be helped back into its natural habitat by concerned citizens but the inhabitants who live within and around the fishing settlement where the whale mistakenly found itself; couldn’t believe their luck: very much like Vultures and Hyenas, they descended on the unfortunate mammal with all manner of cutting implements to harvest pounds and pounds of flesh.”
The lawyer said further, “isn’t it most shameful, sickening and despicable that, the Government of the state has failed, refused and/or otherwise neglected to issue a statement regarding the unfortunate incident.”
He also appeal that post-mortem activities be carried out by the appropriate health Institution, to ascertain whether or not health-related challenges might arise from the incident.
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