Gwakuru: Pond with abundant inedible fishes
Gwakuru is a small pond situated in the southern part of Kagarko town in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The pond, which serves as a source of potable water to the community is believed to have some strange historical tales. Interestingly, it is said that the pond never dries up, be it dry or rainy season.
Daily Trust on Sunday also learned that the waters have no links to any water sources.
The pond is surrounded by giant trees and its surroundings bear some pleasant serenity during the rainy season as swampy grasses grow that make thick vegetation.
The colourless waters give one a vivid scene of underwater life beneath the water. But when it rains, the waters turn murky just as when it’s been dredged it turns as muddy as filthy.
Lots of exciting fishes of different varieties and a number of colourful snakes can be seen cohabiting. The locals, however, noted that they fetch water and carry out other daily activities without being attacked or harmed by these reptiles.
Annually, Gwakuru community indigenes gather to dredge the pond during which men, women and young boys come to witness the event. Daily Trust on Sunday witnessed this year’s dredging exercise which held last Saturday.
Fish and snakes are spirits Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday on the history of the pond, one of the custodians of the pond, Sarkin Leman Sarkin Kagarko, Malam Sa’idu Madauci, says he believes that all the snakes and fishes in the water are nothing but creatures that emanated from spirits.
Shedding more light on the preparation for the event, he said some concoctions are spread around the pond between midnight and 1am and then they assemble the next morning for the dredging.
Explaining the reason for the concoction, he said, “The concoction makes any stranger snake leave the pond’s vicinity or go into hiding, leaving behind only the small ones that inflict no harm.”
Sa’idu Madauci, who’s in charge of the fishes, snakes and other creatures in the pond, told Daily Trust on Sunday that Malam Sa’idu Ibrahim who is the eldest among them and present Sarkin Rafi, handed over the affairs of the pond to him due to some circumstances.
He stated that they inherited the title from their ancestors more than 200 years ago. Madauci revealed that the title originated from a woman who was said to have resided at the place named Ya Sabulu. The woman, according to him, never had a child but was given a boy to be his custodian. He succeeded her after she had nurtured, taught and guided him on the affairs of the pond.
Whoever kills or eats Gwakuru fish or snake dies
The Magajin Rafi, who is one of the successors of the said woman, went on to state that “No one would dare kill, cook or eat a fish or a snake from this stream without dying that fateful day.” He went on to claim that if one fetches water from the pond and meets him to receive some concoctions, God willing, he’ll be cured of any illness.
Madaucin Kagarko, who gives the concoction to the dredgers, said “Every fish that you see here is inedible.”
Narrating why the fish is considered mysterious, he stated that “A wife of Sarkin Fawa out of ignorance once caught, cut and cooked the fish, only to realize that it was still alive. She then hurriedly took back the fish to the stream after which she was informed about the existing norm.”
Revenue could be generated from the pond
The Sarkin Ruwa, Malam Sa’idu Ibrahim, who couldn’t participate in the event due to unforeseen circumstances, however corroborated the potency of the pond claimed by the other custodians, saying people from far and near come to fetch water for treatment of ailments from the pond.
He appealed to Kagarko local council, Kaduna State and the Federal Government to look after the pond by refurbishing it to generate revenue. According to him, it’ll be a good tourism site.
He also called on the Federal Government to furnish and fence the pond by mounting an entrance gate to attract tourists who visit the area on a daily basis.
The Sarkin Ruwa alongside other custodians of the pond reiterated their appeal to the local council towards taking care of the pond, lamenting that several appeals to the council in the past yielded no results.
He believes that all the snakes and fishes in the water are nothing but creatures that emanated from spirits