A youth activist in Etche ethnic nationality, Comrade Japhet Ogbuneri, has said that the continuous dredging of sand at the Otamiri river in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State may lead to environmental disaster.
Ogbueri who is the Vice President-General of Ogbakor Etche, representing Omuma clan spoke at the Easter convention of the Etche socio-cultural organisation in Okehi, headquarters of Etche.
He also criticized the siting of an Abattoir by the side of the river, stressing that this will pollute the river which is the only source of water in the Etche ethnic nationality.
The activist said that the activities of the dredgers many of whom have not undertaken any study of the impact of their activities on the communities must be checked.
According to him, the continuous dredging of sand in the river is capable of increasing the volume of water which later will engulfd communities along its banks in Etche and Omuma local Government Areas.
He also criticized the continuous silence of both the political and traditional leadership of Etche on the issue.
“It is high time, the Ogbakor speak out on this issue, because, this is a disaster that is waiting to happen.
“For sometime now, we have spoken out against this indiscriminate dreadging of sand in the river, but no body is doing anything about it” he said.
The activist said that time has come for the leadership of Ogbakor Etche to take up the challenges by compelling companies carrying out dredging activities in the area to follow the proper procedure, with a view to ensuring that their activities do not threatened the existence of the communities.