Residents of Onyikwa community in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, are struggling to access safe water, relying instead on a single contaminated source shared with animals, a situation raising severe public health concerns.

A report by civic tech organisation MonITNG revealed that the water is visibly polluted and unfit for human consumption, yet residents have no alternative. Despite repeated appeals to authorities, including letters and petitions to local stakeholders and ministries, the crisis has persisted for years.

During a recent visit, Tracka observed community members collecting water from stagnant, muddy ponds while livestock drank from the same source. The report highlighted the daily hardships residents face, from children exposed to unhygienic conditions to households struggling to maintain basic sanitation.

MonITNG described the situation as a violation of fundamental human rights and called on the Ebonyi State Government and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to urgently provide a sustainable water solution.

“Access to clean water is a basic human right. The people of Onyikwa deserve dignity, safety, and relief from years of neglect,” the report stressed.