The October 13, 2010 Landslides on the Azenge Mountain in Imande Ukusu, Nkomon Disrict, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

A swarm of 14 landslides occurred spontaneously within the Azenge Mountain on November 13th, 2010 between the hours of 1 and 6 am after torrential rains. The landslides were studied using interviews, field observations and laboratory study of the soil samples collected from the major landslide site. Results of the study show that the event that was reported by many local media in Nigeria as volcanic eruption was a spontaneous massive slope movement along the mountainous terrain of Imande Ukusu, Mon village. About 1,123,918 m3 of rock and debris were moved along the sliding surface for more than 1.5 km to the toe of the mountain within a very few minutes. The size of the materials moved decreases from the top to the toe of the slope which range from 50o to 5o respectively. These materials range in size from block of rocks of various sizes, soil to mud. The largest boulders moved measured 71.2 m and 88.5 m respectively. The rock types in the area include gneisses, granites, basaltic rocks and dolerite dykes which have a general strike of 240o NW with a dip of 038o NE and are highly fractured. The fractures and dip are in the direction of the slope. Laboratory result of the soil samples reflect two types of grain sizes. Those with very high degree of susceptibility to sliding above the sliding surface which plot in the failure zone and those less susceptible from the sliding surface and plot outside the failure zone. Torrential rainfall towards the end of the year was the main triggering mechanism of the landslides. Other causes are attributed to geological, morphological and human factors. The landslides led to the death of 1 person, destruction of vegetation, soil structure and texture, farmlands and remodeling of the geomorphology of the area. It is recommended that human activities along the toe of the hills be reduced and settlements should be sited far away from the hills to avoid further loss of lives in future.