The Azikoro community residents in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state, has been engulf in fear as corpses were seen floating on flooded area.
The corpses sighted on the water were being exhumed by floods from the community’s cemetery.
This has triggered panic as well as worry because residents of the Azikoro community fear any outbreak of infections from chemicals used by the authorities during the reburial of the washed-up corpses.
A source in the area who pleaded anonymity said the chemicals applied and the stench from decomposing corpses posed serious health hazards to residents.
The source who is a prominent politician begged the government to relocate the cemetery from its present location after the floods because it is flood-prone.
He said, “may I call on the government to provide relief items for the residents and relocate the cemetery after the flood.”
A cross-section of residents bares their mind on their fears aside from the horrifying sight of the corpses.
A resident who identified himself as Ebi narrated that the sight of the corpses was like a horror movie that gave him goose pimples all over his body.
He said “The first was a casket with a decomposing corpse inside. Then the second corpse came out without a casket and the third corpse with a wrapper near the body.
Initially, we were confused. Later an idea came to us that we should find a way to retrieve the corpses and take them to a corner outside the cemetery that was not as flooded as the graveyard. We did so and some persons informed the authorities.
“Later, the government officials came and reburied the corpses. After that, they fumigated everywhere.”
According to him, he has been emotionally traumatised from the incident and seeing those corpses floating on the water has weighed him down physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Another resident Angela Moses said she still dreams of the sight of the incident. She also stated that even though the corpses had been reburied, the stench from the decomposing bodies still permeates the environment.
Moses, who appealed to the government to evacuate residents of the community said “I want to appeal to the government and relevant authorities to come to the aid of residents in whichever way possible. We are really facing terrible times now. We need help badly.”
Meanwhile, the State commissioner for environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, confirmed that three floating corpses were recovered from the scene.
Gbaranbiri, who is also the chairman of the Bayelsa Flood Management Committee, said the corpses had been reburied and the environment adequately fumigated.
