Kwande volcanic eruption: Victims lament their woes, lampoon state govt

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Residents of Makurdi are now living in fear following reports of uncommon happenings at the mountainous Mkomon community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State where a volcanic eruption claimed two lives while property worth millions of Naira have also been destroyed.

The latest incident in Mkomon is the fourth in the series of eruptions in the rather forgotten community some six hours drive from Makurdi most of which is done by motorcycle popularly known as Okada.

The first eruption in the community occurred as far back as 26 years ago in 1984 followed by others in 2005 and 2009. Unfortunately nothing was done by way of an indepth study to pre-empt further occurrence until the latest incident.

But unlike the case a few days ago, the earlier eruptions recorded in the mountainous community did little or no damage at all to inhabitants of the area that also borders Cameroun Republic.

The community of predominantly farmers consisting of Ityuluv-Niev, Injor Niev-ya and Iwa Niev-ya natives has been devastated and cut off from the rest of the world, no thanks to a volcanic eruption that was preceded by heavy tremor that saw rocks crashing down from the hill and destroying farmlands and houses in its wake.

The eruption site.

Narrating their ordeal to newsmen who thronged the community to see things for themselves, the kindred head of Mkomon, Chief Gabriel Aja, explained that on November 4, 2010, the entire district was terrified by a heavy vibration never experienced before.

Chief Aja who conducted journalists many kilometres around the disaster sites also grieved over the loss of his 30-year-old nephew, Mr. Shaaka Aja, who died in the incident alongside a teenager.

He said: “We could do nothing but just leave our fate to God”, adding that the magma emitted from the eruption has not only polluted their only source of potable water, the KIPAM Stream, but that crops and houses worth several millions of Naira have also been destroyed.

Chief Aja’s tale was also corroborated by a former chairman of Kwande local government, Akombo Ande Akombo, who lamented the neglect of the people by the State government in spite of repeated eruptions in the community.

He intimated that he had written several memos to the Benue State Government on the need to take action on the incessant occurrences and also requested for the construction of the only road leading to the area but all pleas fell on deaf ears.

The reaction of the Commissioner for the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. John Ngbede when contacted on Saturday over the incident seem to give credence to this allegation. He merely dismissed it with a wave of the hand saying: “It never happened. In fact, I am busy with the thanksgiving service for the Governor holding on Sunday, let’s see what we can do on Monday”.

But unfortunately nothing has been said by the state government on the matter and no move was made to alleviate the suffering of the affected people yet the incident has continued to attract attention from within and outside the state.

When Vanguard Metro called at the office of the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Adikpo Agbatse, he was said to have travelled abroad.

Meanwhile, a geologist with the University of Agriculture, Mr. Abagyegh Ingyorokogh, has described the emissions at Abelakpa Mountain as a “function of geological forces” within the earth crust where magma substances boil, thereby forcing the earth to crack.

Mr. Ingyorokogh further said the magma could travel a long distance and cause great havoc depending on the space of the crack on the mountain which is occasioned by tensional forces under the earth.

The geologist who suggested that an indepth scientific research be carried out around the mountain to determine the level of volcanic threat to the lives of the people, called on the Federal Government to construct protective demarcation lines around the mountain and also evacuate the people from any looming future occurrence.

Also commenting on the incident, an environmentalist, Mr. Hyacinth Vaatyough, with Environmental Space Agency, Abuja said it was a volcanic slide, warning the people against drinking water, including rain water, likely to have been contaminated by the magma.

Meanwhile, as the community continue to live in fear of the unknown they have also made a passionate appeal to the state and federal governments to come to their rescue since the only available bridge in the community had been cut into pieces and water gushing from the eruption sight has also flooded parts of the community.