benue

On Saturday I posted about an incident that occurred in Benue State, Nigeria. This state is on the border of Cameroon, and the incident was reported in two news outlets to have been some kind of eruption on the mountain district of Mkomon. The original story told of eyewitnesses hearing and feeling a great vibration of the earth, then the mountain exploded and lava came gushing down. Many thought it was a volcanic eruption, but no volcanoes exist in that area. The reports were specific in their eyewitness account and of the damage done to property. One boy was reportedly killed. The reports said that the area now lacked roads, were cut off, and had no drinkable water. But today the Benue government said that it was not an explosion but a landslide:

“Benue State Commissioner for Water and Environment John Ngbede has debunked media reports that there was a volcanic eruption in Kwande Local Government Area. Ngbede said there was a landslide in Mkomon district, Kwande Local Government Area, and not a volcanic eruption. He said there was a heavy rainfall and vibration in a mountain bordering the community with the Republic of Cameroun. The commissioner said rocks rolled down from the mountain and destroyed houses. He said the vibration pulled down trees. Ngbede said a volcanic eruption would have had a more devastating effect. Kwande Council Chairman Terlumun Akputu said the geophysical movement of rocks claimed one life and destroyed farm lands. He said the community of about 150 residents lacked access road, potable water and other social amenities. The council chairman urged the Federal Government to assist them and construct the road linking the community with Cameroun.”

So all the details between the Government version and the eyewitness reported version except one are confirmed: lava. The government said that this was the third such landslide in the district. However, if you ask me, the locals who have experienced this before know the difference between landslides and a volcano eruption.

But the mystery continues, and we still lack pictures.
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Update at bottom
Volcanic eruption in Benue, one person feared dead
News Nov 5, 2010; By Peter Duru, Makurdi

“A volcanic eruption has occurred at the mountainous Mkomon district of Kwande Local government of Benue State with one person feared dead while properties worth millions of Naira have also been destroyed. Residents of the affected community have deserted their homes in search of safer place. Sources of portable water have been polluted by the heavy magma emitted from the eruption. Vanguard gathered from eye witnesses that there were heavy vibrations around the mountains at the border with Cameroun Republic, followed by eruptions at six points on the mountainous terrain. The vibrations spewed magma which covered streams and hand dug wells and the entire community leaving the people without portable water. At the moment, there is panic amongst the people who are said to be cut off completely from the rest of the world as a result of the occurrence and damages to roads and bridges which was occasioned by the heavy vibration.”

Volcanic eruptions in Benue
• 1 killed, property destroyed
From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi, Saturday, November 6, 2010
“Tragedy struck yesterday in Mkomon District, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, a border community to Cameroun, when volcanic eruptions on a mountain claimed the life of one person as well as destroyed property worth millions of naira. Saturday Sun gathered that the tragedy occurred while residents of the community were attending the annual thanksgiving service of the local church. Terzungwer Iorhemen, a member of the community, told our correspondent that midway into the thanksgiving service, vibrations on the earth overwhelmed the area, located at the Cameroun boundary. “While the thanksgiving service was going on, we suddenly noticed heavy vibrations in the mountain bordering the area with Cameroun Republic, which was followed by a sudden eruption from six points on the mountainous terrain,” he said. He disclosed that the vibrations were followed by the eruption of lava from the mountain covering wells, streams, trees and houses in the area, leaving residents with no other option than to flee for their lives.”

The bible says, “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:26). And the GREAT SHAKING continues! I hope your heart is shaken, people, and you realize it is God shaking your shoulder as His call to you to wake up, wake up from your deathly slumber.

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Well, it’s been a day later and there are no other reports on the event and no pictures. I’m officially suspicious.

Category: benue

Benue eruption explained, by the government

Volcano erupts in Nigeria?? (UPDATED)