There was palpable apprehension in Igbeti, Oke Ogun area of Oyo State over the weekend when parts of the popular Iyamopo hill began to break into smaller fragments, causing a series of minor eruptions.
It was gathered that the incident which occurred three times within 10 minutes mirrored a similar case in April 2024. The sudden activity caused panic among locals, especially those living near the base of the mountain.
According to experts, the phenomenon is known as sheeting, a natural geological process that occurs when the pressure on the outer layers of a rock is reduced, leading to the peeling or breaking off of surface layers. This process is common in coarse-grained rocks such as granite and is influenced by pressure release, temperature changes, and chemical weathering.
The Head of the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, DCC A.G. Olasedidun, confirmed the incident.
“It was gathered from our officers today that an activity suspected to be a landslide occurred in Igbeti, in Olorunsogo Local Government Area. Observations from the scene indicated that there was an initial and sudden noise of an explosion, precisely on the mountain popularly called Iyamopo hill,” DCC Olasedidun said.
He explained that the blast was followed by the gradual disintegration of rocks down the hill, triggering a landslide.
Olasedidun added that a similar event occurred on the same hill in 2024 and was believed to have been caused by intense heat recorded on the mountain.
“This assertion was reached since blasting of rocks is not permitted on the mountain by human activities,” he added.
Authorities have continued to monitor the situation closely and have pledged to keep the public informed.
