Accra: This is August 21, 1986, after a busy market day in the Nyos Valley of Menchum Division, North West region. The green virgin landscape is still, as usual, with families dining, heading to bed, or counting their days' fortunes. Amongst them is Suleman Abuobakar, who will later become one of the survivors of the Lake Nyos disaster: a deadly release of approximately 1.6 million tons of trapped carbon dioxide gas from the lake's bottom in a limnic eruption. According to Cameroon News Agency, Suleman, now a teacher at Government Primary School Old Town Bamenda, was then a sixteen-year-old primary five pupil living in one of the three original settlement areas of Nyos. He recalled in an exclusive interview on CRTV Bamenda with Colday Olivier, a troubling sound that echoed through the community at about 8:30 pm. He later learned that the water had risen in volume, and rocks falling into it might have triggered the release of the harmful gases. Suleman believes that the gas took longer to reach his location d ue to the altitude, and attributes his survival to the consumption of red oil, which he believes protected him from the gas's effects. Another survivor, Prudencia, who was pregnant at the time, shared her experience in a CRTVweb production. She described how the earth trembled as the lake released the gas. Her husband, who was delivering honey to a family near the lake, witnessed the scene of devastation as the lake increased in size and destroyed the surrounding greenery. Official reports state that 1,746 people lost their lives, with over 3,000 livestock killed. However, Suleman believes the actual death toll may be higher, as many victims were never counted. He speculates that the death toll could have been even worse if not for a local Muslim cleric who banned late-night celebrations during the Muslim feast called 'Sallah,' prompting many young Muslims to leave the area for festivities in Esu. After the disaster, Suleman remembers the intervention of a Catholic priest before government agents arrived. The government swiftly relocated the survivors, including Suleman, to temporary camps where they received education and healthcare. Suleman benefited from a government scholarship for three years, along with food support, until permanent camps were established in 1989. Assistance also came from non-governmental organizations and faith-based groups, which played a crucial role in supporting the survivors. Despite the passage of time, the impact of the disaster remains evident. Fatima Musa and Dradawu, daughters of survivors born twenty years later, have grown up hearing about the tragedy. Fatima's father was the sole survivor from a family of eighteen, having been away for 'Sallah' celebrations. Prudencia, who lost her husband two years after the disaster, has lived without family except for her child. Fatima sees the Lake Nyos incident as a reminder of the importance of ongoing awareness to prevent similar tragedies. Dradawu hopes that the fortieth anniversary will bring hope and support for recovery effort s. The fortieth anniversary of the disaster is being marked under the leadership of Nyos's traditional ruler, Fon Richard Kimbi Chuh. The world is being called to honor the victims and discuss the future of the survivors. A weeklong series of events will culminate in a ceremony on August 21 in Nyos, drawing national media attention. The Lake Nyos Day of Remembrance will focus on the theme: 'Resilience and Sustainable Development of Lake Nyos Basin.' Although Fon Kimbi did not witness the event firsthand, he relies on Fulani accounts shared on CRTVweb, describing how a circular accumulation rose from the lake to the sky. He recounts how his late uncle, the Fon at the time, relocated with his people until the area was deemed safe. Fon Kimbi acknowledges that life in Nyos has not fully returned to normal, as survivors rebuild from scratch while coping with their traumatic memories.
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