Just before I travelled, I had already earmarked places where I will visit to check on their environmental and natural appeal whether it has dwindled or appreciated.

And so, on the 31st day of December 2014, I traveled to a neighbouring village in the town with the aim of going to see a very popular river there. I first, dropped by a friend's house in the Anaocha village of Akpugoeze and we both headed for the river called "Mmamu River".

It was a calm, cold and windy evening. There was a huge volume of dust in the air as vehicles and motorcycles passed the untarred road.

I used my handkerchief to cover my nose as we journeyed to the river on a motorcycle as there was no public transport in that route and the car with ought to have used just developed a fault.

Some minutes later, we were at Mmanu river with a trademark calm atmosphere. 

My first action there was to open my camera and take pictures of the dorsal part of the river.

Indeed, the river is an interesting one.

It's flood-like coloured,with a gentle flow, very deep in its own right and covers an impressive length. It also serves as the boundary between Anambra state and Enugu state.

The river serves many purposes for the village. Outside being the major water source for the village, people wash their cars and motorcycles at the riverside using water from Mmamu. Also, clothes were being washed at the river when I got to the scene and people were there swimming and from interactions with them,they just came back to the village from their base in the city. 

Another important purpose the river serves for the people is that they use it in processing/washing tapioca to ensure that it's ready for use as food. Obviously, it's very important for them in there agricultural practices especially in provide source of water for the growth of plants and more importantly, it leaves the fishermen in that village smiling whenever to go to hunt for aquatic lives in the river. I am glad the hunting has drastically reduced to save us some aquatic lives.

But then, what really took me to Mmamu river this time?

I was passing by the river earlier in 2014 and I saw a huge tree which fell into the river and indeed crossed the river owning to its huge size and I wonder what really happened. So, I now visited to check if the tree has been removed or if it's still there. The latter was the case. 

But thankfully, from what I saw and understood, it didn't affect the flow of the river. But it still needs to be removed as more ageing trees may fall in. 

Again, that river had operated with a wooden bridge for years which let's out a terrible noise whenever a vehicle or motorcycle passes through it. I always spoke against it as it looked endangering.

Today, I am happy to report that the bridge has changed from a wooden one to a metallic one even though the metallic cover maybe consider makeshift, it's a massive improvement on what it used to be and I will continue to talk about it till a genuine modern bridge is constructed there by the government as this one in use now was constructed by the community.

Mmamu river has an interesting vegetation surrounding it led by bamboo trees as obtains in most rivers in Nigeria and then, complemented by other trees which gives the river environment the shade and calm that not only attracts people, but keeps them close to one of the yet unaltered gift of nature in the Anaocha village.