Those who were not born in the 80s and early 90s would not know the story of Michael Balema, who was famously known as the “Man on the Tree” in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In the early 1990s, an intriguing and captivating story emerged about an elderly man who abandoned his home and family, went into the mountains, and decided to live on top of a tree for several years.
That man was Michael Balema, a native of Mwel village in Kadung District of Pankshin LGA. Though there were conflicting reports on how many years Nde Balema spent in the trees, some said he spent 19 years in total, while others said he spent 14 years before he was finally persuaded to come down and rejoin his family.
As the story went, Balema, who apparently suffered from a strange ailment, had complained to relatives that there was a large body of water which he feared might swallow him if he dared come down from the treetops.
For many years, he lived in the tree until the tree was cut down, which forced Balema to move to the top of the mountains and lived in a cave for a few more years.
The new transition earned him the nickname “The Man on the Rocks” or “The Man in a Cave”.
Eight years later, Michael Balema returned to his family, but by then, he had lost his sight in the course of his temporary stay outside the home.
Those who passed on the story did not, however, reveal how he fed himself or how he relieved himself when he lived on the treetops or in the caves.
NB: If you know another version of the Michael Balema story or you actually witnessed the scenario, kindly share with us.