Falling tree kills chief, injures others in Ilesa

A chief in Oke-Eso area of Ilesa, Osun State, Chief Felix Amure, on Sunday died after an Iroko tree fell on him in Ita-Akogun.

Although there were rumoured that two other persons died in the incident, the state headquarters of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps confirmed the death of the 72-year-old chief, who is the Elemoso of Oke-Eso.

The Head, Disaster Management, NSCDC in state, Mr. Olaniyi Babalola, said only one person died in the incident while two others were injured.

Babalola said the injured were taken to Wesley Gild Hospital, Ilesa, for treatment.

He said, “It is only one person that died. Two sustained severe injuries and they are unconscious, others who sustained minor injuries have been treated in various clinics and have been discharged.”

Babalola gave the names of those injured as Adewale Adebayo (49) and Abu Musa (28).

But some residents said two commercial motorcyclists and the chief died in the incident, which has thrown the entire community into mourning.

A former chairman, Ilesa-West Local Government Area, Mr. Edward Keshinro, who spoke with our correspondent, described the incident as shocking.

Keshinro said, “There was neither wind nor rain for the huge tree to suddenly be uprooted. It is a strange occurrence; the tree had been there for several decades.

“The tree suddenly fell and killed three persons including a high chief. The high chief, who was coming from the church, was well dressed in native attire. The tree blocked the entire road.”

A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Fowowe, who also was a one-time chairman, Ilesa-West Local Government Council, said some persons were still trapped under the tree.

He said, “It’s a terrible scene. Some victims are still trapped under the tree. Many people were wounded.”

PUNCH