Tree kills 31 villagers in Imo state

       Thirty one persons have been killed and 16 others injured by a tree which fell down in a Nigerian village in Imo State.
The tragedy occurred, during a rainstorm Thursday night at the Ukwu Uko evening market at Umuejinwaoke Umudagu village, Mbieri, Mbaitolu Local Government Area.
A resident of the community, Mr Nnaemeka Emenyonu, told NAN in Owerri that the tree fell on the affected persons around 8:00 p.m. He said the tree also destroyed the village hall.

trees can be dangerous

“The big tree fell suddenly on 31 people, who died at the spot and injured 16 others. Those injured were taken to hospital. The victims include two sisters, who sell tomatoes. Honestly, this is a saddest event in the history of our community,” he said.
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Godwin Duru, lamented that such a tragic incident had never occurred in the community.
“I do not know what to say. God, what can we call this?, My people were destroyed within a twinkle of an eye. what a pity,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Joy Elemoko, declined comment on the incident after several efforts to get the command’s reaction to the issue.
In May 2011, a falling tree also killed the Victoria Mimi, wife of the former chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina Alu, in the family home in Alu village, Benue State. The tragedy also occurred during a rainstorm.