Tree kills 31, injures 16 in Imo

Thirty-one persons were killed when a tree at the Ukwu Uko evening market in Umuejinwaoke Umudagu village, Mbieri, Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Imo State fell on them.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 16 others sustained degrees of injuries during the incident, which was caused by rainstorm on Thursday night.
A resident of the community, Nnaemeka Emenyonu, told NAN in Owerri, the Imo State capital, that the tree fell on the affected persons around 8pm.
Emenyonu said the tree also destroyed the village hall.
He said: “The big tree fell suddenly on 31 people, who died at the spot and injured 16 others.
“Those injured were taken to the hospital.
“The victims included two sisters, who sell tomatoes.
“Honestly, this is a saddest event in the history of our community.”
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Godwin Duru, lamented that such a tragic incident had never occurred in the community.
Eze Duru said: “I do not know what to say.
“God, what can we call this?
“My people were destroyed within a twinkle of an eye.
“What a pity.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Imo State Police Command, Joy Elemoko, declined comment on the incident after several efforts to get the command’s reaction to the issue.