There is palpable fear and anxiety among residents of Argungu in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State over the unusual and unexpected drying up of the famous Argungu River.

Reports say the residents woke up a few days ago to discover that the river popularly known as ‘Mayan Fada’ had dried up and its natural species of fish including the special species injected into it by the state government had all disappeared.

Irked by this development, the Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and other stakeholders visited the river which serves as venue of the prestigious Argungu Fishing Festival to ascertain the causes and level of the dryness.

Accompanied by the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Alhaji Suma’ila Abdulmunini Kamba, Deputy Speaker, Muhammadu Buhari Aliero, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Babale Umar and other government officials, Governor Bagudu expressed concern over the sudden climate change which has affected the river and the condition of its natural aquatic animals.

He therefore directed the state’s Ministry of Works to mobilize all available construction companies in the state to restore water to the river and save the different species of fish which he said were endangered, from further extinction.

“My administration would do everything necessary to bring back the Mayan Fada River to life, to continue to serve the purpose of providing communities in Argungu Emirate with source of water for irrigation farming and fishing activities.”

In his remarks, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera informed Governor Bagudu and his entourage that his people were highly disturbed by the development which he said was the first time such was happening in over a hundred years.”

Looking overly disturbed, the monarch said fishes, including the Mammoth usually caught during the Argungu fishing festival were dying and appealed to the state government to employ appropriate strategies to correct the anomaly.