No fewer than 30 persons have died in a fresh case of lead poisoning at Bagega village in Anka Local council of Zamfara State.
As result of this development, the Emir of Anka and chairman of the Zamfara State Council of Emirs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has resolved to suspend the forthcoming Eid-el fitr Sallah celebration to symphatise with the families of the deceased and other victims of the disaster.
Investigation carried out by the LEADERSHIP revealed that more children are dying following the resurgence of lead poisoning at Bagega town, which was at the root of the rocks that led to the death of more than 300 people in the last two months.
A source who pleaded for anonymity said unconfirmed figures show that no fewer than 30 children had died as a result of the reoccurance of the menace.
The disease, which is associated with mining activities, was noticed in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of the state early this year, in which N240 million were said to have been spent by the government for the control of the diseases in the first five affected areas of Anka and Bukkuyum local councils of the state.
Millions of naira were also spent for the excavation of the polluted soils in all the affected villages, all in a bid to eradicate the affliction but the effort seems to have been fruitless, as barely one month after the exercise, the disease has returned in full force, killing several children under the age of five.
Meanwhile, a committee has been inaugurated by Anka Emirate council with the mandate to quickly move to Bagega village to curtail the growing number of casualties before the intervention of the state and the federal government.
A statement signed by the secretary of Anka Emirate council, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Anka, and made available to LEADERSHIP in Gusau, said that the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Mohammed Ahmed, had banned all forms of mining in the area.
warning that, any body found violating the order would be arrested.
He warned the people of the area, particularly children to stop moving into the mining sites so as not to inhale the chemicals that cause the disease.
October 04, 2010, 01:30:15 AM