Residents and environmentalists in Makurdi, Benue State, have raised the alarm over alleged pollution of the River Benue by Pure Biotech Company Limited, a cassava processing plant located at kilometer 10, Gboko road.
According to reports, the cassava plant has been discharging its waste into the river, resulting in a foul and offensive smell that has affected the water quality and aquatic life in the river.
Some residents told Track news that they have been seeing dead fishes floating in the river as a result of the pollution.
Speaking on the issue, Kugia U Kwande, the Chairman of the Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation, expressed his dismay and called for an investigation into the matter.
He demanded to know “who approved the plant, who did the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), who authorized the waste management system, and who owns the factory”.
Kwande also raised concerns about the health hazards faced by people living downstream who rely on the river as their only source of drinking water.
He emphasized that the river is a source of livelihood for hundreds of people and millions of living things depend on it for survival.
Our correspondent gathered that as part of efforts to address the issue, the Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation has collected water samples from the river and is carrying out an analysis to determine the extent of the pollution
