Ogbunike Cave: Anambra State prime tourist attraction in parlous state

Background

Ogbunike cave judging by its enchanting and awesome natural platitudes, aesthetics and physical components, is not just Anambra State prime tourist attraction only but that of South East and Nigeria as well because of its distinctive natural alluring elements, which are found nowhere else in the country.

The cave, which is located in Ogbunike town, derives its name from the town, which is one of the traditional settlements in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. You can access the town from both the old Onitsha-Enugu Road and the new Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

It shares borders with Umudioka (Idemili Local Government Area) on its eastern flank, on the North-East by Umunya (Oyi Local Government Area) and on the North by Nkwelle-Ezunaka (also Oyi Local Government Area) while on its Western and Southern flanks is Ogidi (Idemili Local Government Area).

One of the interesting features of the town, which is still very much laid back, is its amazing landscape, which boasts undulating feature cutting across the six villages – Ukalor, Osile, Amawa, Ifite, Umueri and Azu – which constituent the town’s population and make up.

The people enjoy a fertile and arable land with many of them traditionally farmers and traders. They are also noted for their rich culture, art and craft and have over time produced a number of prominent indigenes who have in different spheres impacted on the development of the town, state and country such as late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, a former Senate President.

To tell you how dear the people hold the cave and the critical role it plays, years back it was rumoured at some point that the late Okadigbo, who was the Oyi of Oyi once hid the Mace of the Senate inside the cave for ‘protection’ during the imbroglio that led to his impeachment and removal as President of the Senate.

The cave

Ogbunike Cave is actually a collection of caves in a forested enclave with rich and diverse vegetation. It is nestled against the Ogba hills in which lies St. Monica College, stretching across a valley-like landscape that is intertwined by admixture of streams, gorges and valley. It comes across as very fascinating, awesome and intriguing features, with some mystic and eerie feelings coming to the fore when exploring the caves.

The cave, which has elevated the status of the community as one of the prime tourist attractions of the country, which fame precedes it, plays a very significant role on both the traditional and spiritual life of the people as they celebrate its existence with the re-enactment of the ImeOgba Festival every year.

Accessing the cave most often is not a moonlight task as you have to walk your way through the about 317 steps, which are rugged and stepped in nature. Early hours of the day are about the best time to explore the caves with the natural light providing some form of illumination, as the caves are always in pitch darkness making it difficult for you to find your way around.

The caves could be said to be creatively formed into different compartments with the main section or cave consisting of a massive structure with a big opened chamber of about five metres high, 10 metres wide and 30 metres long.

Just before this is an open section as well that serves as the reception lounge, where on descending the walkway people first stop to perhaps catch their breath, heave a sigh of relief and then try to cast a glance around and taking in the new environment before proceeding to explore the inner bowels of the caves. But this can be done after receiving some instructions from your tour guide.

There are 10 tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are interlinked.

There are streams and body of waters at various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water.

There is also a large tableland or plain within this section that over time has become a resting place for visitors and sometimes turned into a picnic ground by some especially during festive periods when the community and visitors take solace at the cave to celebrate.

 Besides these intriguing and delicate as well as naturally appealing physical settings with each section holding its unique attractions for visitors, you are also impressed by the natural vegetation of this tropical rain forest enclave, which has become home to a number of flora and fauna species with the presence of a bat colony, deer, antelope, grass cutter, porcupine, rabbit, alligator, snakes and frogs. Others are fish, crabs and birds.

Picturesque scenery

Besides being home to tourists, picnickers, and the community people, its spiritual significance has over time been elevated beyond the communal religious belief the people attach to it as people of other faith particularly Christians have found the place a solemn ground and a Mecca of some sorts for offering of prayers, sacrifices and a veritable retreat ground for spiritual rejuvenation.

It is a common sight on visit to see people of different faith engaged in various acts of spiritual worship at the grove and in some cases you find some elements of sacrifices such as candles and calabashes littering the environment.

Also in recent time, film makers and researchers of different hues have also taken to the place because of its serene and picturesque setting, which make for good visuals and photo shoot.

For now a number of the community indigenes in partnership with others have decided to keep the cave busy and popularise it the more through the organisation of such events as: Ada Ogbunike Beauty Pageant; Ogbunike Cave Carnival and Ogbunike Walk4life, all yearly events.

Govt promise of intervention

But despite its natural inclination to attract huge patronage and business for the people, the cave has largely remained in its rustic stage with little attempt by both the government and the people to develop the site into a money spinning location.

History has shown that various attempts by the state government to elevate the status of the cave have been futile with the most recent being the promise made by the present state governor, Willie Obiano, in 2015 to turn the cave into a huge tourist site.

The governor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Project Finance and Development Limited for the development of the cave. The project cost, which was put at $250million, entailed the design, development, financing and construction of the cave into a world class park and resort centre, after which it will be managed by the private sector.

But for now, what is being done is the construction of the Ugwu-Nwasike-Azu-Ogbunike-Azu-Amawa-Osile-Ifite-Umueri-Saint Monica College Ogbunike Cave Road, which is stalled half way.

However, the promise to work on the other roads leading to the cave and that of opening it up, landscaping and investing on other world class amenities such as hotel, to attract attention of tourists are yet to be implemented.

The present state of the cave and activities to keep the cave in the consciousness of the people are being sustained by communal efforts with the traditional ruler of Ogbunike, Igwe John Ositadimma Umenyiora, leading the vanguard.

 In 2007, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments submitted Ogbunike Cave to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), under mixed category, to be considered as a World Heritage Site (WHS). For now, the cave is still on the tentative list and it may remain so for long as there is nothing in sight to show that either the state or federal government is equal to the task of making the cave fly.