In response to the sighting of dead fishes floating around the shores of Bonny Island and other communities around the Niger Delta region, the Bonny Environmental Consultant Committee (BECC) has warned against harvesting or buying of fishes indiscriminately around the area.

Chairman of BECC, Professor Sodienye Abere told Kristina Reports in a telephone interview that his committee has received reports of the sighting of dead fishes around the shores of Bonny and surrounding communities and was investigating the source of the incident.

“We got some reports about four days ago that there was a gas leak due to a pipeline burst around the Fuakpa, Sobiekiri and Okololaunch area and dead fishes were being sighted along shores in the area. SPDC happens to be the only company having a gas pipeline around the area, so we are suspecting them.”

He advised the people of the area against buying or harvesting fishes in the area as they may have been contaminated by a yet-to-be-identified chemical, stressing that people should prioritize their health and wellbeing at this critical time.

“BECC calls for caution in buying or harvesting fish from the Bonny areas for fear of contamination. We are still investigating the cause of the outbreak and not sure what is responsible for this development. It may be a gas leak, of which we are suspecting Shell, but it could also be the use of dynamites, but by who? We don’t know yet”.

Reports reaching Kristina Reports reveal that along the Atlantic shoreline including Finitasengi (River 7, Lighthouse, Amariari, Agaja and other communities in the area there has been apprehension since the sighting of large numbers of dead fishes began.

Social media has been awash with posts and comments on the issue with people wondering what could be the real cause of the incident.

Shell Petroleum Development company was yet to respond to enquiries on the issue as at the time of this report.