MEMBERS of Amansea and Ebenebe communities in Anambra State where 18 mysterious corpses were recovered, last week, have expressed fear of a looming epidemic unless measures are taken to clean the waterway.
They also alleged that the state government is yet to pay the persons it hired to evacuate the dead bodies.
This, according to the aggrieved villagers, is the reason subsequent corpses have not be removed.
But the Anambra State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor, said only one additional corpse was found after the initial evacuation.
At about 3.30pm yesterday when he spoke on the issue, the commissioner claimed the lone corpse was being evacuated from the Ezu River.
Responding to claim by leader of the evacuation team and palace chief in Amansea, Benjamin Onwuania, Ikeakor insisted: "It was only yesterday (Friday) that they informed us that one corpse was found. As I speak with you, the body is being evacuated."
He said adequate efforts have been taken to prevent outbreak of an epidemic, adding that the risk is minimal "because the river is not stagnant."
He told The Guardian on telephone Saturday that the river was fumigated by the state's Ministry of Environment on Friday, and that the local government in the area has made adequate provision of water to meet the immediate need of residents.
He also claimed that the state government has commenced construction of a borehole in addition to the existing one.
Ikeakor disclosed that the divers, who claimed they have not been 'settled', were mobilised with N300,000 as part payment of the N800,000 they charged. He said the balance was delayed due to inability of lifeguards to issue a written payment order request.
The government official said payment of the N500,000 balance was approved on Friday but it was late to make withdrawal. He gave assurance that the money would be paid on Monday.
The Guardian