Ancient Big Tree falls, kills over 50 People in Imo State

Over 50 people are feared dead and a yet to be ascertained number were critically injured when a tall tree known as Osisi Ukwu Uko, collapsed on buildings, as well as those transacting their business in a market located under the tree.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the tragedy struck at Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli local council area of Imo State late Thursday night, following a heavy down rain that was accompanied by a ferocious windstorm and thunder.

A boy, who simply gave his name as Emeka, told  Saturday Vanguard at the scene of the ugly incident that “about 50 bodies had been removed from the place”, adding that a woman whose leg was dismembered by the fallen tree, had been taken to hospital where medical personnel were battling to save her life.


While debunking the rumour now making the rounds that the tree had fetish attachments to it, Chief Nlemigbo however expressed unhappiness that some elders in the community had severally resisted earlier arrangements to fell the tree.

A villager that gave his name as Amarachi Obumunonye blamed the community’s elders for bluntly refusing initial plans to cut the tree.

He however recalled with grief that when some parts of the tree were trimmed about 20 years ago, the two individuals engaged to execute the job died unexpected after about a week, adding that this lent credence to the belief that the gods residing in the tree had been angered.