OLU OSUNDE & JOHN AKPODOVHAN who were at the scene of the volcanic eruption in Abelakpam community in Benue State write on the effect of  the devastation on the residents in the area.

THE frightening description of the devastating effects of the volcanic eruption by some of the witnesses, an incident they claimed occurred Thursday, November 4, 2010 at about 9p.m after a heavy downpour could set one wondering whether the end as proffessed by christians and many other religious groups was near.
First, according to the account was a thunder storm followed by heavy vibration and then, a flow of lava into the streams, wells and later, an unprecedented destruction of lives and property.

Going through records, the people of the unfortunate community are familiar with such incident.  In 1985, 2005 and 2009, similar eruptions devastated the community when mount Mbatyough cracked.  Although the three volcanic eruptions destroyed houses and farmlands, no life was lost.  It however according to some of the villagers, turned the residents of the area to beggars.

That of November 4, 2010 on mount Abelakpam appeared to be more deadly as it claimed not less than twelve people aside from cutting off bridges, large expanse of farmlands and causing damage to houses.  The emission according to those who spoke to Sunday Tribune if not checked, may in future match the one that occurred recently in Indonesia.

Abelakpam where the eruption occurred is about three hours drive to Makurdi the Benue State capital.  Funny enough, to get to the community, a visitor is forced to alight at Jato-Aka market from where he rides a motorbike to complete the journey which takes another two hours.

What makes the area more inaccessible is the absence of telecoms network and bad roads.

Till the time of filing this report  some of the victims of the eruption were yet to be found as their corpses some of the villagers insinuated may have been buried by the lava or the broken stones from the mountain.

Because of the openings created over time by the successive eruptions, some of the villagers now complain of invation by the Cameroonians some of whom they accused of stealing and raping.  The Cameroonians they alleged, usually infilterate through the damaged Kilapan bridge.

According to the kindred head, Chief Gabriel Aja the experience of 1985 followed by another in 2005 and 2009 can’t be compared to the hell they went through on October 13, 2010.

These border villages which share boundary with the Republic of Cameroun lack all the social amenities. Their only source of drinkable water is the Kipam stream that has now been contaminated by the volcanic emission.

Chief Aja who wore gloom looks  at the time he was speaking to news men said,  the devastation was much  and that he was not armed at the time of the interview to quantify the extent of the damage on their lives, farms and property.

He disclosed that, at least, two people had lost their lives. One of the dead victims  named Shaakan Aja was a relation of the district head.

When the rumblings from the vibrations increased in intensity, it uprooted trees and rocks, threw them kilometers away and at the end of the wreckage, houses animals and other property estimated to cost millions of naira had been destroyed

In the midst of the confusion, the residents had to run for their dear lives to find refuge somewhere since their houses were no longer safe  from the vagaries of the volcanic eruptions.

Chief Aja who could not give the accurate cost of the damage from the eruptions said, they were now searching for their missing brothers and sisters. “It will take us sometime to really know the exact number of the dead and the missing people”.

Some people are missing no doubt and we must find out who they were. What happened to them, were they around when the disaster happened,” he said.

Former chairman, Kwande local government council Hon Ande Akombo who expressed his disappointment on the way his people were neglected said he personally intimated the government of their problems and how to alleviate their sufferings.

He opined that the people of the area needed good road networks while the basic necessities of life should be provided without much delay. One Abraham Opwu, who escaped unhurt said since he was born, he had never seen such a thing.

Another elder Polycap Atmburgh who also saw it all and lives in Kikpan village said they were still searching for our missing people. “We remained in doors waiting for the worst to occur. We couldn’t run because there was no where to run to. We have witnessed vibrations in the past but this one rocked us. What else will I say again than to thank God?”

The chairman, Kwamde local government council, Hon Terlumun Akpotu in his reaction  confirmed the death of one person  during the eruption saying that that was the third  of the geo-physical disasters that had occurred in the council area while also pointing out that the development  was a confirmation of the neglect of the border villages .

The chairman disclosed that he had informed the State Emergency Management Agency of the people’s need. I have contacted the state relief agency and by the time we put the reports together, we will approach the relevant authorites for assistance.

When Sunday Tribune contacted the State’s Commissioner for Enviroment and Water Resources. Chief John Mgbede on the tragedy, he said , it was not a volcanic eruption but landslide and that his ministry had sent some of his top officials to the scene to assess the damage saying that reports at his disposal indicated that there was no emission.

“There is nothing like volcanic eruption in the state it is not volcanic eruption but landslide” On what his ministry has done. “ We don’t handle emergency relief matters,” he said.