At least, four traders were feared dead on Monday when an ancient Odan tree at the Sabo Market area of Oyo town fell on those seeking refuge under it during a downpour.
Oyo Reporters learnt that the tragedy happened around 4pm when the about 100-year-old tree suddenly fell.
Eye witnesses said that vehicles that were parked close to the tree were damaged.
Some people were lucky to have survived the accident1 varying degrees of injuries.
The Chairman of Sabo market, Akeebu Alarape, said that four different loggers invited to cut the tree did not succeed until the fifth logger, who succeeded came.
The Head of Operations of the Western Nigeria Security Network, a.k.a Amotekun Corps, Atiba area, Akeem Ojo, said that the tree fell on the victims around 6pm.
“A female student of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo; a woman with a baby strapped to her back; and a boy she was holding, were pulled out from under the tree.
“One person was seriously injured and taken to a private hospital in the area, while the motorcycle and the mini bus parked under the tree were damaged,” Ojo added.
A resident, who narrated the incident on Nairaland, claimed that nine people were killed.
He wrote, “The rain started all of a sudden and some people that couldn’t catch up with the last bus went to sit under a huge tree where a meat seller sells his meat not knowing that it will be their end. As it was raining, though not heavy, all of a sudden, breeze started blowing, carrying house roofs, fuel station canopy away, and as if that wasn’t enough, the tree where some market women and their children were sitting fell all of a sudden and crushed about nine of them to death instantly.”
The Chairman, Sooro Local Council Development Area, Oke-Isiwin, Seun Oguntona, said that those trading under the tree would be relocated.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said that four people were killed by the tree.
He said that policemen were immediately deployed to the scene to forestall breakdown of law and order.
