Panic as Earth Tremor Hits Abuja Suburb for Three Consecutive Days
An abandoned mining pit close to PW area in Mpape, one of the affected locations.
Residents of Mpape, a densely populated suburb in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been thrown into panic following a series of earth tremors that have persisted for three consecutive days. The tremors, accompanied by loud, disturbing sounds, were first reported on Saturday and have continued through Monday, affecting several parts of the community.
Mpape, located less than 10 minutes from the affluent Maitama district, is home to both low-income earners and middle-class residents. The tremors were felt most acutely in the P.W. Neighbourhood, Mopol 24 barracks, and Katampe junction, which is linked to the Murtala Muhammad Expressway.
Muhammad jubilee, a resident of the community, described the unnerving experience to Daily Global Newspaper. “The buildings shake whenever the movement takes place, causing fear in the minds of the residents,” he said. According to Ngozi, the tremors occurred about 10 times on Saturday, starting around 4 p.m., with the situation worsening on Sunday.
Ayo Ibrahim, another resident, initially mistook the tremor for a bomb blast. “It sounded quite different from that of quarry mining, in which the area has made its name in the past,” he explained.
Ahmad Nasiru, a mining blaster who has spent years working in Mpape, noted that the sound accompanying the tremors was difficult to pinpoint. “Unlike stone blasting, which is easy to identify, you can hardly understand where the sound is coming from,” Nasiru said. He also recalled a similar incident three years ago, which was more intense and felt in faraway districts such as Gishiri, Jahi, Maitama, and even Asokoro.
Peter David, a community chief, confirmed Ahmad’s account of the previous tremor. “The last incident had originated from the Arab Road area about three years ago. Following that incident, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) sanctioned all mining activities in the community,” David said.
However, David lamented that the ban was short-lived. “The compliance only lasted for about three months before the operators returned to their known sites and continued with their mining activities,” he added.
As the tremors continue to unsettle the community, there is growing concern over the safety of the residents and the potential risks posed by the ongoing mining activities in the area. Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the current situation.
