From Tom Garba, Yola
An official of Adamawa State Museum and Monuments commission, Saidu Audu, has confirmed that the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Nigeria, the ” Sukur World Cultural Heritage ” in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa was destroyed by Boko Haram insurgent in 2014.
Audu, who is the director of the commission told reporters in Yola that the Sukur cultural landscape is located on Mandara mountains in Madagali local government area of Adamawa along Nigeria/ Cameroon border .
Audu said the Sukur site was hilltop settlement about 290 kilometre from Yola, the Adamawa state capital and it stood at an elevation of 1,045 meter above sea level.
He explained that Sukur cultural heritage was an ancient settlement with a recorded history of ancient iron smelting technology dating back to the 6th century.
The site according to the Director General was National Monument as determined by the Joint Instrument of Federal Government of Nigeria Decree No. 77 of 1979 and act cap.242 of 2000.
Audu said that the site was attacked and burnt in September 2014 when Boko Haram invaded Madagali LGA.
His words: “Sukur ancient Iron smelting heritage is the first Nigerian landmark to be listed on the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO at one of its International Conference held in Marekkesh, Morocco in 1999 While Osogbo Grove in Osun made the second list later in 2005 by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).”
He listed four modern research and international conference centers and VIP accommodations and others as among structures at the site destroyed completely by Boko Haram.
He noted that as part of the state government’s commitment about N65 million was earmarked for upgrading and expansion of the site in 2012.
According to the director, state government was making effort in collaboration with the federal government to reconstruct the site .
“Our doors are open for support from National and International Cultural and heritages organizations to rebuild the site” Audu added.
Confirming the development, Alhaji Yusuf Muhammed, Chairman, Madagali Local government area, said that the site was the first international tourist centre in Nigeria.
Muhammed said that the site was now shut down since the attack in September 2014
adding that despite the insecurity challenges, the Sukur annual cultural festival was held in February 2017 in the area.
He regretted that before the advent of Boko Haram the site was considered the biggest international tourism centre in Nigeria and Africa’s first cultural landscape.
Muhammed explained that before, the attack significant number of international figures such as European, Asian and America Diplomats in Nigeria and other international tourists visit the site on daily basis.
According to the chairman, the site is once centre where researchers in and outside Nigeria trooped into the site for their research activities.
“Government and the inhabitants used to generate a lot of money from the tourists and other visitors.” Muhammed said.
Muhammed said during the attacks many inhabitants of the area who were the custodians of the site were killed by insurgents while several houses were touched.
He appealed to relevant national and international donors to join hands with the government to re-develop the site and rescue it from collapse.
Leave a Reply