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.”
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