From: <Steveogbonmwan@aol.com>
Date: 20 November 2010 08:52
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN BENUE STATE
To: Edo_Global@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, NigerianID@yahoogroups.com, NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Volcanic eruption in Benue State
What has been lacking so far is creating the right awareness and enlightenment among members of the public about the existence of active seismic activities in parts of the country. Since 1984, for instance, there have been a number of earth tremors recorded in parts of South-western Nigeria. And, in August 2000, an earth tremor, which hit Zaria, threw the local people into pandemonium.
The Benue eruption therefore serves as a wake up call on the authorities to act pro-actively in this area of disaster management. Structures should be put in place to monitor as well as tackle such disasters whenever they occur.
The eruption underscores the fact that Nigeria is not immune to seismic activity even though the country is not located in the major earthquake zones of the world. The fact that the mountains around us haven't erupted in living memory is no guarantee that they would never erupt in future. A dormant volcano is like a sleeping lion, which is bound to wake up. For such volcanoes, it may take quite a long time for major tectonic activity to occur.
Besides, when it is realised that mountains are products of tectonic forces that occurred millions of years ago, the possibility of such tectonic forces recurring can't be totally ruled out. On that basis, the onus is on the Federal Government and the country's universities to research potentially active zones of the country that are prone to tectonic movement. Such action is needed to protect the citizenry from avoidable negative impacts.
Geographically, Abelakpan and Ba-Mbatyough are part of the Cameroun Mountain Range bordering Nigeria and Cameroun. The Cameroun Mountain is a potentially active volcano. The area is in the volcanic belt running from Adamawa down through the Benue Mountains. It is therefore not surprising that the associated mountains are equally active. From the accounts of the local residents, Abelakpan and Ba-Mbatyough have been known to be active for many years.
The eruption reportedly occurred on October 13 killing one person and injuring another. That was the day the community was holding the annual thanksgiving service of its local church. A large crowd had gathered to celebrate the event when the eruption occurred.
Thus, as the event was still going on, people noticed heavy vibration of the land surface across the area. The vibration was followed by lava flow from the mountains, which covered the wells, streams, trees and houses. There was pandemonium as lava spewed into the village forcing people to run helter-skelter with some struggling to salvage their property. The victim, identified as Shaaka Aja, reportedly wanted to feel the lava and was killed in the process. The eruption reportedly occurred from six points on the mountain terrain.
The eruption affected 10 villages along the Kwande-Cameroun Mountain border stretch. Ten bridges were said to have been destroyed with the rushing lava and flood waters sweeping of the bridges. Foul smelling gas pervaded the areas as volcanic ash spewed into the air. Normally, where such eruptions occur, people are expected to wear face masks to prevent respiratory infection. But those were not available thereby exposing the people to danger.
The shocked villagers were confused, not knowing what to do. No one attended to the victims. Officials of the Benue State Government didn't respond to the emergency and so was the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) equally negligent. The eruption caught everyone unawares. The victims were left to their fate. This is of course typical.
Government agencies charged with the responsibility to manage emergencies are ever so ineffective. There is need for a review of the country's emergency management response strategy. In the present circumstance, the affected people should be provided with relief materials to ease their suffering. Appropriate monitoring mechanisms should also be established; in this regard, a detailed geophysical study of the country is needed to ascertain the extent of tectonic activity and plan for safety. People should be sensitised and possibly relocated from potentially disaster zones. Plans to set up seismic stations in the country should be expedited. The stations should be equipped and the data gathered applied appropriately in the public interest.
If we are only for ourselves, what are our lives for? Make a difference, make the world a better place.
Dr. SEO OGBONMWAN.
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