Residents flee Oyo communities following reports of possible earthquake

Residents of some communities in Saki West Council Area of Oyo State on Wednesday abandoned their homes in panic following reported earth tremors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected communities included Medina, Balako, Salam Salam, Dauru-Salam as well as parts of Oke-suna.

Some of the residents, who relocated, told NAN that with the threat, the likelihood of earthquake was not impossible as the noise being heard from beneath the earth surface was frightening.

According to Fatima Ishola, a housewife, the persistent noise from below the earth surface had been on the increase in the last couple of months.

“But it got to an alarming level this week and particularly today (Wednesday) when the underground noise and movement became too enormous and unbearable.”

Another resident, Mr Ismail Muideen, appealed for urgent government intervention, noting that many residents had fled their homes.

NAN reports that various government agencies had visited the affected areas several times in the last two months.

The Deputy Speaker of Oyo State and indigene of the area, Mr Musah Abdulwasi, confirmed the development to NAN.

“I have been to the affected areas with very senior members of the Geology Department from University of Ibadan.

“They hinted that there is likelihood of heavy movement of rocks in the water channel beneath the ground in those affected areas.

“They also advised that evacuation of residents of affected areas is the only solution to tremor and possible earthquake after establishing degree of tremor.

“Honestly, they told us that no one could ascertain for now the degree of the tremor and whether it will lead to earthquake or not.”

Also speaking, the Caretaker Chairman of Saki West, Mr Kareem Adekoge, told NAN that some agencies which visited the affected areas had already allayed fears.

“Apart from the state Ministry of Environment, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had also visited the area.

“They promised to plant a device that would be used to monitor the tremor level; they also said that the situation might not be as bad as thought.”

Adekoge, however, confirmed that a middle-aged man lost his life as a fallout of the incident.

He said: “I think the man was hypertensive and could not bear the threat of the noise and movement, so we lost him to the incident.

“I also heard some people are relocating but it is only tenants that can do that; will a landlord relocate leaving his property behind?” (NAN)