Earth Movement In Plateau Not Earthquake – Experts

A team of experts that investigated an earth movement in Zot community of Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State have said there was no cause for alarm over the recent incident in the community.

They said the earth movement was neither a tremor nor an earthquake.

A document obtained by LEADERSHIP from the scientists who conducted the study reads that “On April 3, 2024, sudden earth movements were experienced in parts of Zot, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

The movements were accompanied by huge noises which sounded like explosions, which left members of the community terrified because it cracked the walls of a building and also shattered ceilings in the area. The community immediately reported the incident to Barkin Ladi local government area which reported the same to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Minerals Development.

“The ministry’s director of exploration, Mr. Samuel Jaryum, visited the site on April 9, 2024 and confirmed the occurrence.

“He led a team of geoscientists from Geodesy Toro, Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos and the Department of Geology, University of Jos (UNIJOS) for detailed investigation to unravel the remote causes of the earth movement after an approval by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

“The experts included Associate Professor Raymond Daspan HOD, Geology Department University of Jos, Dr Ofonime Akpan (seismologist) assistant director, Centre for Geodesy and GeoDynamics  and Dr Kehinde Ogunmola (structural geologist), assistant director, National Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos .

“The team carried out the investigation from April 18-19, 2024 after which they concluded that the earth movement was not likely to be a tremor or an earthquake and that it might be as result of expansion and contraction of the rock due to the intense temperature that is being experienced lately which leads to release of pressure and subsequent cracking of the rock and the building.

“They also disclosed that it might also be due to the lowering of the water table with the attendant  release of water from fractures and cracks within the rock which eventually leads to  mechanical failure hence the earth movement and loud noise  observed by the members of the community.

“The team also assured the community that there was no need for panic and that further detailed investigation will be carried out to ascertain the exact cause of the earth movement.”