Aquatic Life in Ibusa Facing Threats of Human Activity: Oduche Stream, Vanishing
By Emeka Esogbue
Although our community is blessed with several bodies of water, we have not done enough to preserve our aquatic ecosystems. Sadly, environmental conservation seems to be the last item on the people's agenda.
Nature has richly endowed Ibusa with waters such as Oboshi, Atakpo, Iyi Ojii, Abu Ogboli, Oduche, and others. These resources should support an extraordinary diversity of life and are essential to the health of our entire community; yet, today, they face dire threats from human activity.
One by one, Ibusa’s bodies of water are vanishing—polluted, destroyed, encroached upon, or re-channeled for private use. There is a deafening silence and a lack of concern from the government, the political class, and individuals alike.
The case of the Oduche stream is particularly pathetic. Once considered one of our most transparent and pristine waters, it has fallen victim to greed. Individual farmers now compete to re-channel the water for personal gain, while others discharge waste directly into it, forcing the aquatic environment to absorb staggering quantities of pollutants.
This water, a communal natural heritage belonging to all Ibusa people, now reeks of decay and stands on the verge of total disappearance.
What can the Ibusa people do to save their heritage?
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