COMMUNITY REPORT
Fresh Toxic Waste Allegedly Dumb In Delta, As Community Claims Compromise
One of Dump sites
Substances suspected to be toxic waste has been allegedly dumped by an unidentified company into swampy pits in Egbeleku community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, BigPen Online has learnt.
Local sources alleged that the community leadership had compromised and took a bribe of N5.5 million to allow the company dumped the waste freely in the community.
The development which is currently causing controversy in the area was reportedly kept secret from the public as the locals claim they are under threats not to disclose the dump site to the media.
Sources however revealed that the company dumping the waste has several sites around the area where they dump the waste unhindered.
The dumping of the waste substances on the sites started about a month ago, our source said, adding that nobody is allowed access to the area in an un-tarred road since the shady deal was struck with the community leadership.
An indigene who simply identified himself as Ujewei said: “Our lives, both non-indigenes and indigenes, [are] seriously in danger following the dumping of the dangerous substances in the community.
“Some leaders and few persons in the community were compromised and these persons are those threatening the people against the exposure of the whole thing.
“The community leaders have vowed to deal with anyone that will go to the site and disrupt the dumping of the toxic,” the non-indigene said.
“Some of us the indigenes have taken our time to secretly visit the site which was dug by earth moving equipment,” one of them said.
“We saw the multiple dump sites where an unknown company is dumping some smelling sludge into dugout swamp pits along the yet to be tarred Eku Road in Egbeleku community.
“We are using this opportunity to call on all relevant authorities especially the local government council chairman, Delta State Ministry of Environment and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to come to our aid before it is too late”, the community pleaded.
A visibly worried middle-aged woman, who preferred anonymity, gave the names of some of the community leaders who allegedly received the N5.5 million bribe to include, Mr. Alex Ayeya, Chairman of the community; Mr. Luke Ezeighu, Secretary; Mr. Vote Oghojafor as well as Mr. OnlyGod Usiakponebro.
“A firm came to the community and settled the chairman, his secretary and other leaders some weeks back [who] gave express permission to the firm to begin the dumping of this smelling brownish waste believed to be toxic into some pits dug by the firm with caterpillars.
“Because of the threat and fear, we refused to question the secret way and manner with which they control movement of the unknown product into the community.”
She noted that in order to ensure the deal was not exposed, some individuals in the community are being monitored by youths hired by the leadership of the community.
“We have also come to discovered that the community leaders shared some money to some indigenes considered to be strong voices in the community to shut their mouths, and warned others persons who declined the offer. These are the set of people the leadership is monitoring now,” the woman stated.
Our correspondent further gathered that, that the issue was reported to the Okpe council environmental department to intervene because of the health dangers it constitutes but that no action was taken.
A female staff at the Okpe council environmental department who pleaded for anonymity confirmed that there were complaints from some persons from the community.
Wondering why the matter has yet to be followed up, she lamented that the dumping could pose a serious danger to the health of the people and called on law enforcement, the state government and industry regulators to wade in and investigate the matter, with punishment served to offenders.
When contacted, the chairman of Okpe local government council, Mr. Godwin Ejinyere, and the Delta State commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani, denied any knowledge of the dumping of the toxic waste in Egbeleku community, saying nobody has brought any such complaints to them.
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