The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has sealed a residential building in Aba after officials discovered more than 100 bags of human excreta stored on the premises.

The agency disclosed the development on Tuesday in a post on its Facebook page, identifying the property as House 16, Ibadan Street, Aba.

ASEPA described the discovery as a serious public health concern, warning that the situation could pose significant risks to residents if left unaddressed.

Officials also reportedly found four basins containing human excreta in the corridor of the building.

Sewage pit discovered beneath bed

According to ASEPA, a sewage tank was also discovered inside one of the rooms downstairs, directly beneath a bed used by occupants.

A video released by the agency showed officials removing tiled floor slabs from what appeared to be a living room. Beneath the tiles was a large pit believed to have been used for sewage collection.

The room appeared to be furnished and contained clothes hanging on the walls, indicating that it was being used as a living space.

ASEPA said the occupants were aware of the situation.

“This is not merely an environmental violation; it is a serious public health concern capable of triggering an epidemic if left unchecked,” the agency said.

The property was sealed on August 18 pursuant to a court order, according to ASEPA.

The agency said the building would remain sealed until the required corrective measures had been carried out.

Residents call for investigation

The discovery has sparked questions among residents and social media users over why human excreta were being collected and stored at the property.

Some commenters called for authorities to investigate the purpose of the waste beyond addressing the environmental violation.

“Proper investigation should be carried out to know what they are using it for, it’s not only sealing it,” Imo Alex wrote.

Another commenter, Kingsley Obiora, suggested that the waste might have been intended for agricultural purposes.

“Na manure oh! Maybe they want to use it in their farms,” he stated.

Ifeoma Enwerem similarly suggested that it could potentially be used for purposes including pig feed, farm manure or fish feed production.

Another commenter, Giraffes Arts, noted that human waste could have certain reuse applications, including biogas production and other agricultural uses.

Despite the suggestions, ASEPA did not state what purpose the stored waste was allegedly intended for.