Awka — THE five local government areas of Awka North, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum and Oyi which make up Omambala area of Anambra State, Thursday, expressed fears that all the communities along the Ezzu River that empties into Anambra River may become victims of an epidemic.

Dr. Nnanna Egwu, who led a delegation of Omambala Forum to the palace of the traditional ruler of Amansea, Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo, said the various communities living along the river should be taken into consideration, in view of the environmental consequences posed by the floating dead bodies to their people.

Egwu said: "Ezzu River is part of the great Omabala River and if it is polluted in Amansea because of the mysterious dead bodies floating on it, it will equally affect other communities within the area. This issue has been discussed at the enlarged meeting of Omambala Forum.

"The river that passes through Amansea is part of Omabala River that traverses over 20 communities and that is why the matter should be of great importance to everybody. We are using this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to wade into this matter because before December last year, our people reported that some dead bodies were floating in our river. We did not take it seriously because it was not up to the magnitude of the Ezzu River discovery."