Residents, workers and passers-by on
Saturday besieged Kara along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to view the
sudden appearance of plants which grew on a section of the Ogun River.
Saturday besieged Kara along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to view the
sudden appearance of plants which grew on a section of the Ogun River.
A large number of people stormed the
area with their phones and recording devices, while some went as far as
walking over the water plants and praying.
area with their phones and recording devices, while some went as far as
walking over the water plants and praying.
The Kara cattle market community under the bridge along the
Lagos-Ibadan expressway has become a Mecca of some sort with residents
of the community and passers-by trooping to see the dried section of the
river which once provided water for the Kara cattle and ram market.
The Lagos-Ibadan expressway has become a Mecca of some sort
Surprisingly, on the other side of the Kara Bridge, the river is seen flowing freely.
Some people were seen testing the solidity of the greenThe plant
Though several eyewitnesses described the occurrence as “strange and mysterious,” geological experts told SUNDAY PUNCH that the plants were simply rapidly growing seaweed and that the incident was not extraordinary.
Our correspondent, who visited the site
on Saturday, observed that a significant expanse of the river had been
carpeted by a massive layer of the vegetation.
on Saturday, observed that a significant expanse of the river had been
carpeted by a massive layer of the vegetation.
Scores of residents, including children, were walking, playing and praying atop the plant-covered river.
Michael Fagbenro, a panel beater with a
workshop located at the Kara riverbank, said those in the area began to
notice the plants surface at about 8am on Friday.
workshop located at the Kara riverbank, said those in the area began to
notice the plants surface at about 8am on Friday.
He said, “It started gradually; the
plants were flowing with the river. But by 12pm, the water began to flow
forcefully and brought a lot more plants. It accumulated at a very
rapid rate.
plants were flowing with the river. But by 12pm, the water began to flow
forcefully and brought a lot more plants. It accumulated at a very
rapid rate.
“By Friday afternoon, it had completely
covered the river. I have been here for over five years and this has
never happened. It is obviously not normal. This is unbelievable. When I
saw it, I was afraid because it is so strange.”
covered the river. I have been here for over five years and this has
never happened. It is obviously not normal. This is unbelievable. When I
saw it, I was afraid because it is so strange.”
Asked if he had attempted taking a walk
on the seaweed, Fagbenro exclaimed frighteningly, “Who, me? I don’t have
the courage to walk over it! I am not one of those born here and I
cannot swim. I am even sure that when the plants leave, they will take
someone with them.”
on the seaweed, Fagbenro exclaimed frighteningly, “Who, me? I don’t have
the courage to walk over it! I am not one of those born here and I
cannot swim. I am even sure that when the plants leave, they will take
someone with them.”
Mrs. Christiana Monday-Egbu, a local
trader, similarly said she and other workers at the site were fearful at
the occurrence on Friday.
trader, similarly said she and other workers at the site were fearful at
the occurrence on Friday.
The cassava processing business owner,
who set up shop by the river over a year ago, said, “It was around 10am
when the water started gushing, carrying the plants with the waves. It
wasn’t even raining when it started.
who set up shop by the river over a year ago, said, “It was around 10am
when the water started gushing, carrying the plants with the waves. It
wasn’t even raining when it started.
“People were startled when it started.
It all happened so fast. I have never witnessed such a strange
occurrence in my life. Everyone rushed out to watch with surprise.”
It all happened so fast. I have never witnessed such a strange
occurrence in my life. Everyone rushed out to watch with surprise.”
Another Kara-based trader of over three
years, Mrs. Love Itoro, said prior to the strange development, canoes
plied the river, conveying passengers, mostly traders, from one side to
the other.
years, Mrs. Love Itoro, said prior to the strange development, canoes
plied the river, conveying passengers, mostly traders, from one side to
the other.
The food vendor explained that at the
climax of the incident, a canoe was caught in the middle of the river
with five passengers who were meat sellers.
climax of the incident, a canoe was caught in the middle of the river
with five passengers who were meat sellers.
“When the plants started coming in large
amounts, it blocked the boat and almost made it sink. The driver
quickly came down onto the plants to help the passengers carry their
meat. People from the other side then threw a rope and pulled the boat
back to safety,” Itoro said.
amounts, it blocked the boat and almost made it sink. The driver
quickly came down onto the plants to help the passengers carry their
meat. People from the other side then threw a rope and pulled the boat
back to safety,” Itoro said.
Mrs. Ability Udoh, a trader at Kara for
five years, said the occurrence was not entirely strange. According to
her, occasionally, the river would bring sea-based plants.
five years, said the occurrence was not entirely strange. According to
her, occasionally, the river would bring sea-based plants.
Udoh, however, admitted that she had never witnessed it in such magnitude.
“We are happy that nobody died,” she said.
Two other traders, Mercy and Blessing of Calabar extraction, said they were shocked and afraid when the incident occurred.
Mercy said, “I too was so scared because I have never seen something like this.”
Blessing added, “I saw someone lying
down on the plants on Friday; I was so scared. I cannot believe how
daring some people are.”
down on the plants on Friday; I was so scared. I cannot believe how
daring some people are.”
In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, Dr. Folorunsho Adetayo of the Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, identified the plants as seaweed.
According to the environmental geoscientist, seaweed is a regenerative product of algae.
Adetayo said, “The plants are not
harmful. People can come in contact with them without being harmed. The
rainy season definitely contributes to it. I cannot say that it is the
first time this is happening.
harmful. People can come in contact with them without being harmed. The
rainy season definitely contributes to it. I cannot say that it is the
first time this is happening.
“It could have happened in the past.
During certain periods of time, the algae proliferate and are formed
around the river course.”
During certain periods of time, the algae proliferate and are formed
around the river course.”
He also dismissed claims that the river
had dried up, noting that the algae had the ability to reproduce and
regenerate itself at a rapid rate within hours.
had dried up, noting that the algae had the ability to reproduce and
regenerate itself at a rapid rate within hours.
He said, “No, the river cannot just dry
up in the rainy season for that matter. It is an experience that is not
restricted to Nigeria. At least, personally, I have witnessed it in
Qingdao, China, two years ago.”
up in the rainy season for that matter. It is an experience that is not
restricted to Nigeria. At least, personally, I have witnessed it in
Qingdao, China, two years ago.”
Adetayo however warned, “The government,
however, needs to remove the plants because if allowed to stay long, it
can become toxic to plants and animals, including human beings.”
however, needs to remove the plants because if allowed to stay long, it
can become toxic to plants and animals, including human beings.”
A Professor of Applied Geophysics,
Department of Geosciences, UNILAG, Elijah Ayolabi, in an electronic
mail, also explained that the occurrence was not strange.
Department of Geosciences, UNILAG, Elijah Ayolabi, in an electronic
mail, also explained that the occurrence was not strange.
He said, “To the ordinary man, this may
be strange, but to those of us who have conducted geophysical
investigations and geological mapping around that area, it is not
strange. However, I will like to see it myself and provide scientific
deductions of the occurrence.”
be strange, but to those of us who have conducted geophysical
investigations and geological mapping around that area, it is not
strange. However, I will like to see it myself and provide scientific
deductions of the occurrence.”