Tragedy Befalls Ilorin as Tree Fatality Claims Two Lives and Injures Ten

ILORIN, KWARA STATE — A tragic incident unfolded in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on a somber Monday morning, casting a pall over the Sango area of the town. In a startling turn of events, a towering tree, adjacent to a roadside and situated near a filling station opposite Oke Adini Junction, claimed two lives and left a further ten individuals injured.

According to sources close to the incident, the calamity occurred at approximately 8:00 AM, a time when the bustling town typically awakens to the rhythm of daily life. The unfortunate victims, including a woman, were awaiting transportation at the roadside beside the petrol station, intending to embark on their respective journeys. In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, the massive tree fell, tragically crushing the woman to an immediate and untimely demise.

Swiftly responding to the distressing scene, compassionate passersby rushed the injured to a nearby private hospital in the vicinity, where they received initial medical care. However, the injuries sustained varied in severity, leading to the transfer of those with more critical conditions to the state hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, officially confirmed the heartrending incident. In an official statement, Okasanmi stated, “A branch fell off a tree at the Sango area this (Monday) morning. Seven persons were affected and were rushed to the hospital, two eventually died, and others are still undergoing treatment. Investigation on the case is ongoing. Details of the investigation will be made available as soon as it is concluded.”

In the wake of this calamity, the state government extended its condolences to the affected families. Dr. Mariam El-Imam, the state Commissioner for Health, conveyed her sympathies through a statement signed by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Gbenga Falade. The statement recounted the immediate response by a team of health experts, dispatched to provide emergency care to the victims at the scene.

Dr. El-Imam, who was present at the scene, praised the community’s prompt and supportive response to the tragedy. She noted that the victims, initially taken to nearby private hospitals, were subsequently evacuated to the General Hospital, Ilorin at Taiwo. The condition of the lone victim transferred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was described as stable and responsive to treatment. The entire community stands united in grappling with this shocking incident, mourning the loss of two lives and fervently wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.