Again, Bayelsans butcher whale at Brass Island

The community of Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State recently encountered a striking event as they discovered a large whale stranded on their shores. The massive creature, measuring approximately 15 meters in length, five meters wide, and standing three meters tall, was found lifeless on Wednesday morning after apparently washing ashore with the high tide the previous night.

According to Tarinyo Akono, a community source and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Bayelsa State, the residents wasted no time in starting to butcher the whale. Armed with machetes, hacksaws, and axes, they began the process of cutting the animal into pieces for various uses.

Seiyefa Felix Ben-Basuo, the youth president of Okpoama, confirmed that the local youths were actively involved in the butchering process right at the seaside. The scene depicted a community mobilized to utilize the unexpected bounty brought by the sea, a common occurrence in coastal communities where stranded whales often provide a significant source of meat and other valuable resources.

The event underscores the deep connection between the Okpoama community and the sea, where such occurrences are both a spectacle and a practical opportunity for sustenance.