June 11, 2025In a rare and dramatic scene early Tuesday morning, residents of Ikuru community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State woke up to the sight of a massive whale washed ashore along the community’s coastline. The marine giant, which measured several meters in length, drew hundreds of curious onlookers—before swiftly turning into a community-wide butchering frenzy.Eyewitnesses say the whale was first discovered by local fishermen returning from the night’s catch.
At first we thought it was a capsized boat,” said one fisherman who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But as we got closer, we saw the large tail. That’s when the shouting started—people came out with knives and buckets.”By mid-morning, scores of residents—both young and old—had gathered at the scene, armed with cutlasses, axes, and even kitchen knives. Within hours, the enormous sea creature had been chopped into pieces, with the meat distributed among community members.
Some shared it freely; others sold slabs to interested buyers.While many saw the event as a divine blessing in these economically tough times, environmentalists and marine experts are raising concerns about public health and the preservation of endangered species.“It’s not just about meat,” said a marine biologist who reviewed video footage of the butchering. “Whales are protected in many parts of the world. Beyond that, a carcass washed ashore could pose serious health risks if the animal died from disease or toxic ingestion.
As of press time, there was no official response from the Rivers State Ministry of Environment or the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
However, social media is already buzzing with videos and images from the scene, raising debates over conservation, hunger, and tradition.Ikuru, a coastal Ijaw community known for fishing and its deep ties to the sea, has previously encountered similar incidents involving dolphins and smaller sea creatures—but never anything on this scale.Whether this is a one-off natural occurrence or a sign of deeper ecological changes remains to be seen.
📸 Footage and photos circulating online via @Aproko Africa🟢 Source: FrontNaija News🔁 #Aproko Africa #River state #Andoni #Ijaw #Go viral #Whale news #FrontNaija Reports #Environmental Alert
