The Osun State government has advised tourists, devotees and visitors at the grand finale of the annual Osun Osogbo Festival not to drink water from the Osun River because of contamination.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, gave this advice on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.

Rafiu Isamotu said the government had embarked on sensitisation to discourage people from drinking the water during the festival. He stated that the water has been contaminated by the activities of artisanal miners and is not good for human consumption.

Isamotu said public health officials would be at the grove during the festival to further sensitise people on the dangers of drinking the water.

The Osun Osogbo Festival is an annual event usually celebrated in August at the Osun Sacred Grove, in the worship of the goddess of fertility. The festival is usually attended by tourists from all over the world, as well as Osun devotees.

During the festival, tourists, visitors and devotees drink from the Osun River for its perceived divination, while some take the water home to bathe with.

According to the Curator and Site Manager of Osun Osogbo Grove, Adekunle Fatai, no fewer than 60,000 devotees and tourists were expected at the grand finale on Friday.

The river is said to have been heavily contaminated with mercury, lead, cyanide, and other injurious elements that are poisonous to human health.

Geographical information analysis and laboratory tests carried out by a non-governmental organisation, Urban Alert also affirmed the presence of heavy elements in the water. (NAN)

ALSO READ:Terrorists Release Seven More Train Passengers Kidnapped in Kaduna