Bayelsa, Rivers Communities Groan Over Earth Tremor

Residents of communities along the Bayelsa-Rivers border are seeking answers after recurring earth tremors shook buildings and sent people rushing out of their homes and business premises, with the cause of the latest incident still unknown.

The latest occurrence, reported on Thursday, October 8, 2026, affected Kalaba and Ikarama communities in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, as well as Mbiama and Iluma in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State.

For residents, the sudden vibrations brought confusion and fear, with some initially suspecting that a heavy vehicle had passed nearby or that a building was about to collapse. However, after the shaking stopped, the question of what caused the movement remained unanswered.

A report by Environmental Conservation, Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD) described the latest incident as the third or fourth similar occurrence recorded in the area within about 12 years. Previous tremors were reported in June 2014 and July 2016.

The recurrence has raised concerns among residents who want government authorities and scientific experts to investigate the phenomenon, establish its cause and determine whether it poses any danger to lives and property.

At Mbiama, a vulcaniser, Chimezie Madu, said the sudden shaking left residents confused, with many rushing outside to find out what had happened.

He said people initially suspected that a heavy structure had fallen, but nobody could explain the source of the vibration.

He said, “Everybody’s thought was whether a heavy structure has fallen down. Many people ran out from where they were and looked around, asking each other what happened, and nobody was able to explain what caused the shaking of the ground.”

The uncertainty was also evident at Mbiama market, where traders and customers reportedly ran out of their shops during the incident.

Innocent Ezebuwo, who hails from Aka-la-olu community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State, said he was buying food items at the market when the ground began to shake.

Ezebuwo said he had experienced similar incidents in his community about four years ago, when the area was associated with oil exploration activities by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, now operated by Oando.

He appealed to the government, oil companies and non-governmental organisations to investigate the incidents and assist affected communities.

However, the accounts of residents have not established whether the tremors are connected to oil industry activities or any other source.

Caroline Theophilus, another resident of Ahoada West, said she was at home when she suddenly felt the surroundings vibrating.

She said she ran out in fear because she did not know what was happening, adding that the government needed to investigate the phenomenon to prevent possible danger.

In Kalaba, 51-year-old Freeborn Roland said the incident occurred shortly after 1pm on October 8, when he felt his house and the ground shaking.

He said the vibration was strong enough to make the building and its roofing sheets shake, prompting him to ask his son whether the movement was caused by wind. Roland said his son confirmed that he also felt the vibration.

The experience was similar in Ikarama, where residents also struggled to explain the sudden movement.

Christian Johnson, 48, said he was inside his house when the ground began vibrating. He recalled a similar incident at Mbiama about five years earlier, which occurred at night.

The reported recurrence has left residents questioning whether the incidents are isolated events or part of a pattern that requires closer scientific examination.

Chief Gbaka Amos, the 58-year-old paramount ruler of Freetown community, also reported experiencing the latest incident.

He said the vibration was accompanied by a loud noise and that cracks were observed in some walls.

Amos expressed concern that repeated incidents could cause distress among residents and called for an investigation into the cause.

For environmental activist Alagoa Morris, the recurring reports underline the need for government agencies, environmental professionals and scientific institutions to pay closer attention to what residents are experiencing.

He said, “The most important thing is for the relevant authorities and professional bodies to investigate these incidents and provide reliable information to the people. Residents should not be left in fear or forced to guess what is happening around them.”

Morris added that environmental and ecological concerns affecting communities should receive serious attention, particularly where people report recurring incidents that may affect their safety and livelihoods.

He said the authorities needed to bridge the information gap by conducting proper research, explaining the findings to residents and taking appropriate action based on the evidence.

Until the cause is established, residents of the affected communities remain uncertain about why the ground continues to shake and whether similar incidents could happen again. Their accounts have renewed calls for a scientific investigation that can replace fear and speculation with reliable information.