Over 40 corpses found in Anambra/Enugu river...

Residents of Amansea community, along the border of Anambra and Enugu State woke up Saturday morning discovered over 40 male corpses floating on the Ezzu River.

The bodies, whose source or identities were not known, were suspected to have been dumped in the river by unknown persons on Friday.

There were suspicions that the bodies belonged to people who might have been victims of extra-judicial killings.

They were first noticed by fishermen and sand excavators at the Amansea section of the river as some of the bodies were trapped at the river bank.

The traditional ruler of Amansea, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, described the development as “unfortunate,” saying the community had never witnessed such before.

Governor Peter Obi was said to have cut short his overseas trip to enable him visit the scene.

The Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Azuka Enemuoh, who visited the scene with some government officials, said 40 corpses were counted.

She said, “This is a river which is at the boundary between Enugu State and Anambra State. This river actually runs from Agbogu, Enugu through Oji River, it crosses Anambra State and empties into River Niger.

“It is obvious that these corpses are floating from somewhere and I can tell you we haven’t seen the last of it.”

The Anambra State Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the development and said investigations had commenced.

The Enugu State Police Command said that it would work with the Anambra State Police Command to investigate the source of the 40 corpses.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, who led a team of policemen to the Amansea Bridge from where the corpses could be seen, said the dead bodies remained a mystery to him because he had not heard of any communal clash in Enugu or Anambra where many people were killed.

He said investigations would reveal the source of the corpses.