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By Goli Innocent
A tragic accident claimed at least 18 lives on Tuesday evening after a massive ancestral tree known locally as “Ukwu Akpu Awhum” toppled onto a commercial bus in the Awhum community of Udi LGA, Enugu State.
The bus was fully loaded with passengers when the incident happened during a heavy thunderstorm and rainfall.
The 18‑seater minibus was travelling from Ukehe in Igbo‑Etiti LGA to Enugu metropolis when the giant tree suddenly collapsed, crushing the vehicle and its occupants.
Residents rushed to the scene, but all passengers were reportedly killed on impact.
One community member, Charly Okeke, spoke of the shock that has gripped Awhum. He said that although branches had fallen from the ancient tree in the past, nothing of this scale had ever occurred before.
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“Some people started tying red and white cloths around the trunk, seeking spiritual powers,” Okeke suggested, adding that such acts of desecration may have weakened the tree.
“I suspect this may have caused the tragedy,” he said.
The community has been thrown into mourning as families and neighbours grapple with the devastating loss.
Many residents are now urging greater caution around sacred and ancestral sites, particularly amid the torrential rains that have lashed parts of the state in recent days.
Officials from the state emergency agencies and local authorities are expected to visit the scene to assess safety conditions and provide support to the bereaved families.
As investigations continue, questions remain about how such a revered tree could become a death trap and what measures might prevent similar tragedies in future.
