Panic has given way to clarity in Songon-Kassemblé. Following the alarming discovery of a large quantity of dead fish on the banks of the lagoon on Thursday, June 18, 2026, the local leadership sought to reassure the population.

In an interview with AIP on Friday, June 19, the chief's communications officer, Josué Agoua, categorically ruled out poisoning or industrial pollution as the cause. The incident is actually linked to a local fishing practice.

The origin of the events: an unsuccessful fishing sorting operation

After checks and gathering testimonies on the ground, the explanation turns out to be purely logistical:

1. The catch: A local fisherman hauled up a net containing a particularly large quantity of fish (of the species locally called ahoubé , ahiwo or magne ).
2. The impact of the heat: Due to the high temperatures and time spent out of the water, some of the catch — mainly the smaller specimens — began to deteriorate rapidly.
3. Discarding: Following standard practice, the fisherman sorted his catch at sea, discarding fish unfit for consumption before heading back out to sea. These dead fish then drifted towards the shore.

"It is this completely ordinary gesture, and not a toxic phenomenon, that caused the accumulation of these fish on the edge of the lagoon," explained Josué Agoua.

A swift response from the customary authorities

Although the scale of this stranding is unprecedented in the area, the local authorities immediately took the necessary measures to protect public health and the environment:

1. Beach cleanup: The Chiefdom's Environment Commission was urgently deployed to remove and dispose of all decomposing fish.
2. Reassuring visual analyses: Accompanied by notables Akran Job and Aboua Joseph, the communications officer confirmed that no chemical anomalies, suspicious odors or abnormal water coloration had been detected.

A call for calm and vigilance

While understanding the temporary panic this event may have caused, the traditional authorities of Songon-Kassemblé urge the residents of Songon Djèmin and the surrounding areas to remain calm. They encourage them, however, to remain vigilant and continue reporting any unusual environmental phenomena.