A tree that used to be a symbol of history, tourism and protection in Oyo town has turned a source of tragedy.
Four persons were feared killed and another seriously injured when the ancient majestic “Odan’’ tree fell to heavy windstorm in Saabo area of the ancient town on Monday.
The tree used to provide shelter for butchers, mini buses and commercial motorcycle operators with its far-spreading branches at a popular foodstuffs market in Oyo town.
Alhaji Akeebu Alarape, Chairman, Saabo Market, Oyo town, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the tree was about 100 years old.
Alarape said four different sawyers invited to cut the tree did not succeed until a fifth sawyer was able to cut parts of it for rescue operation to begin.
A resident trader in the area, Mrs Kareemot Ejide, 65, said she had known the tree since her childhood days.
According to Mr Akeem Ojo, Head Operations of the Western Nigeria Security Network, “Amotekun’’ in Atiba Local Council Development Area, the tree fell at about 6 p.m.
“A female student of 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 was taken to a private hospital in the area, while motorcycle and mini bus parks under the tree were damaged,’’ Ojo said.
He added that Amotekun’s presence at the scene was to prevent rioting and looting of goods in the market.
Mr Seun Oguntona, Chairman, Sooro Local Council Development Area, Oke-Isiwin, Oyo, confirmed to NAN that those affected were people who took shelter under the tree during a heavy downpour.
He added that those trading under the tree would be relocated.
He urged people in the area to always stay in-door and not to take shelter under trees when it rained.
He debunked the rumour that the tree was fetish, adding that the person that planted the tree died 30 years ago.
Oguntona said that though the man was a “Sango’’ traditional religion faithful, he planted the tree to provide shade for people.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, DSP Adewale Osifeso, to react were not successful as he did not pick his phone calls
