The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the death of eleven persons following a tragic tree-fall incident in Awhum Community, located in Udi Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday at about 8:45 pm, involved a large tree that collapsed at the Awhum village market square onto two vehicles conveying passengers, killing eleven occupants.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, operatives attached to the 9th Mile Division swiftly mobilized to the scene after receiving distress reports.
Working with local residents, the officers rescued four victims trapped in the wreckage and secured the area.
The injured were rushed to hospital, while the eleven others were later confirmed dead by attending doctors.
Their remains have since been deposited in a mortuary for further procedures.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicles had departed from Old Park, Enugu and were heading to different villages within the Awhum/Okpatu axis when they briefly stopped to drop off passengers.
At that moment, a large tree—reportedly weakened by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and internal decay—suddenly collapsed on them.
The Commissioner of Police expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire Awhum community over what he described as a painful and unfortunate loss.
He also issued a public safety advisory, urging community leaders and residents across the state to regularly inspect and maintain large or aging trees around markets, motor parks, schools, and residential areas, particularly during the rainy season, to avert similar tragedies in the future.
