BAYELSA, RIVERS COMMUNITIES PANIC AS EARTH TREMOR STRIKES AGAIN
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
Residents of border communities in Bayelsa and Rivers States were thrown into panic on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after an earth tremor shook their areas.
The tremor affected Kalaba and Ikarama in Bayelsa, as well as Mbiama and Illuma in Rivers State, forcing residents to flee their homes, workplaces and market stalls. Some residents reported loud noises, intense ground vibrations and cracks in buildings. No deaths were reported.
The incident is said to be the third tremor recorded in the area, following similar occurrences in 2014 and 2016.
The affected communities have called on the government and relevant agencies to investigate the recurring tremors and prevent possible disasters.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), through its Chief Operating Officer, Alagoa Morris, urged state and federal authorities to address environmental concerns and called on professional bodies to conduct research to establish the cause of the tremors.