Abia seals house over human waste in living room

The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has closed a house in Aba, Abia State. This happened after officials found over 100 bags of human waste stored inside.

The agency shared this news on Tuesday via its Facebook page. They identified the house as House 16, Ibadan Street, Aba. ASEPA called the find a serious health risk.

ASEPA also reported that four basins filled with human waste were found in the corridor of the house.

Sewage tank discovered in living room

The agency revealed that a sewage tank was discovered inside one of the downstairs rooms. This tank was located right beneath a bed where people sleep.

A video shared with the statement showed officials lifting the tiled floor in what looked like a living room. Underneath the tiles was a big pit meant for collecting sewage. The room had furniture and clothes hanging on the walls, indicating it was being used as a living space.

ASEPA stated that the people living there knew about the situation.

“This is not just an environmental violation; it is a serious public health concern that can lead to an epidemic if not handled properly,” the agency said.

The house was sealed on 18 August following a court order, according to ASEPA. They mentioned that the property would stay sealed until necessary fixes were made.

Calls for a thorough investigation

This discovery raised questions from locals and Facebook users about why human waste was being collected and stored in the house.

Some commenters called on the authorities to look deeper into the situation beyond just sealing the house. “Proper investigation should be carried out to know what they are using it for, it’s not only sealing it,” Imo Alex wrote on the platform.

Another user, Kingsley Obiora, suggested that the waste might be intended for farming. “Na manure oh! Maybe they want to use it in their farms,” he noted.

Ifeoma Enwerem also commented, “It might be for pig feed, farm manure or fish feed production.”

Another user, Giraffes Arts, mentioned that human waste could have valid uses. “Where I reside, it is used as bio-gas; we cook with it. Also, human extract is reused to breed worms for fish farming and other important purposes.”