The unlucky victims were either traders, who were selling their wares in the market, their customers, some passers-by and others who were taking shelter in the town hall and the surrounding houses.
The devastating rainstorm, which started at about 6pm on the fateful day, continued through the night and spilled over to the morning hours of Friday.
Some of the places damaged by the fallen tree included a segment the market stalls, the town hall and some private buildings located close to the tree.
No fewer than 11 more bodies, including a small girl, were dug out from under the weight of the fallen tree before Vanguard left the scene of the tragic incident yesterday, even as the youths were still digging and combing the entire place for more bodies.
No fewer than 11 more bodies, including a small girl, were dug out from under the weight of the fallen tree before Vanguard left the scene of the tragic incident yesterday, even as the youths were still digging and combing the entire place for more bodies.
Fformer state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, whose ancestral home is a few distance away from the scene said, “The tree was a symbol of the community and no living person in our community can fully narrate the history attached to the tree. The tree had always been there until yesterday (Thursday night)”.
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.
Some villagers around the scene confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that a middle aged mad woman had May 14, 2013, warned the traders, who usually sold their wares close and under the tree to relocate or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences but this was largely ignored.
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