VIDEO: No life lost as over 200 years 'Ngwu' tree falls in Ogui-Nike Enugu

An ancestral tree, "Ngwu," believed to be over 200 years, in Ihewuzhi village, beside presidential road, Ogui-Nike, in Enugu metropolis, on Wednesday afternoon fell down.

Natives of Ogui-Nike told Daily Insider that the tree communicated them that it was going to fall and they asked inhabitants and passersby to give way while it fell under their watchful eyes and about 12:30pm on Wednesday.

Recall that a similar tree fell in Awhum community, in Udi local government area of Enugu State, last month, and killed 11 persons.

The Traditional Ruler of Umunevo Ogui-Nike community, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ngwu said that the name of the tree is "Ngwu" which he noted is symbolic not only the community but in the entire Igbo land.

"They were two Ngwu trees here in Ogui-Nike that we met. One fell down about 20 years ago and we celebrated it. This one that fell here today communicated us, for those who understand the language. It gave signs of its falling and that's how it spoke.

"The driver of a car that parked beside it was asked to remove his car, every other person sitting around it adjusted and you can see how it fell without destroying anything.

"The ceremonial thing here is that we are going to appease it, pour a bottle of red oil which is our own way of thanking the Almighty God. We're not celebrating any other God except the Almighty God, we are not appeasing any other God except the Almighty.

"The tree spoke, our former President General and others around heard it and people were asked to move out. When it was sure that every other person had moved out, the tree gently fell down. It spoke clearly to those who want to hear.

"This tree has outlived every other person in the world. If it were to be any other tree other than Ngwu trees or in any other place outside Ogui-Nike, there would have been casualties. The tree shouted in our language and everybody left the arena before it gently fell down."

One of the community leaders, Chief Chuka Ayogu said that the tree has some worshippers, noting that Ngwu trees are not planted by grow naturally.

"We celebrate God for giving us his mercy in the tree fall with casualty," Ayogu said.

The councillor of Ihewuzhi/Onuato ward 3, Hon. Phillip Nnaji disclosed that the Chairman of Enugu North local government council, Ibenaku Onoh, was his way to visit the scene before clearing of the tree would commence.

"It's a traditional tree, when we were constructing the road, we avoided it and made our way. We are glad for the safety of lives that we're not lost. Ordinarily we won't have cut down the tree because the tree was here before our forefathers," Nnaji said.

Watch the link below to see the tree when it fell

https://youtube.com/shorts/nYPDjgocPK0?si=D-yqtwJ7A5jZXw6G