Members of Kpejnde community in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue state have cried out as over 40 hand-dug wells have been polluted by a substance they suspect to be fuel.
The affected residents along Adoka -Naka road have therefore sent a Save-Our-Soul SOS, calling on government, security agencies, the State House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders to come to their rescue before their lives are put in danger.
The community especially cried out to government to provide them with portable water saying since the polution, they have been buying water for everyday use, a development they say has become a huge burden.
Kpejnde, a high-level community in Naka town, with over 3000 residents and there is palpable fear that if nothing is done to address the situation, the entire community may go up in flames as many youths and commercial motorcyclists have started scooping the suspected fuel to power their machines and motor bikes.
The community leader, Mr. Angba Francis, who spoke to newsmen when they visited the community, lamented that the polluted wells were their only source of drinking water.
He said since they discovered the substance, life has become very unbearable for them as they are finding it difficult to get water for domestic use.
He further alleged that a fuel station in the community was responsible for the water pollution and urged authorities to investigate.
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Also speaking, Mrs. Iveren Abwa whose house is about two blocks away from the filling station, said her daughter was almost consumed in flames one morning when she was about to boil water she fetched from their well.
She said her daughter was saved by the grace of God after she sustained minor injuries when the pot exploded on the fire.
Others who spoke on the development, Mr. Nyigba Geoffery and Gerrard Ugbede complained that “they noticed the pollution for more than three years and reported the matter to the owner of the only filling station around them, the police division, and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, they didn’t get feedback and no serious commitment on the part of the owner.”
When contacted, the owner of the Filling station, Mr. Gabriel Ogwuche said his underground tanks have been checked but there was no problem with the tanks.
Mr. Ogwuche rather alleged that someone, somewhere is out to cripple his business saying that the pollution of the wells is not from him.
Meanwhile, at the Department of Petroleum Resources in Makurdi, the Head of Health, Safety and Environment, Mr. Salihu Mohammad, said the department is aware of the situation but requested that the community do a formal letter to them to enable them take it up formally and carry out tests on sample to determine the exact pollutant in the wells.
The Caretaker chairman of the local government, Mr. Francis Ayarga decried the situation saying urgent steps will be taken in conjunction with all stakeholders and the owner of Gabros Oil to seek lasting solution.
