NEWS
Awhum Tragedy: Worshippers Trade Blame As Ancestral Tree Kills 11 In Enugu
Tension has gripped the Awhum community in Enugu State following the tragic collapse of a revered ancestral tree, Akpu Awhum, which claimed 11 lives and left four others injured.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening in Awhum, Udi Local Government Area, has sparked heated exchanges between Christian leaders and traditional worshippers, with both sides trading accusations over the cause of the disaster.
A Catholic priest from the community, Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ochiaya, attributed the tree’s fall to old age, arguing that it had long outlived its lifespan.
SEE ALSO: Shocking Rescue: Enugu Police Save 20-Year-Old From Human Trafficking Ring
“If the worshippers had allowed the tree to be cut down when it was observed to be very old, and a new one planted in its place, perhaps this tragedy would have been avoided,” he said, noting that even his forefathers met the tree in its aged state.
Fr. Ochiaya dismissed claims of spiritual taboos being responsible for the collapse and urged youths to understand the distinction between culture, tradition, and spiritual practices.
He also called for religious tolerance in the wake of the tragedy.
However, the Chief Security Officer of Awhum community, Justice Ogbonnia, described the tree as a powerful spiritual symbol deeply rooted in the community’s heritage.
He revealed that divination was ongoing to determine the real cause of its sudden collapse.
According to him, the tree was believed to possess protective powers over the community and travellers.
He recalled that during colonial times, attempts by German road builders to cut it down failed, forcing them to construct the road beside it instead.
“We fear this ancestral tree because it has spiritual powers. It is older than any living member of this community,” he said, adding that elders were already carrying out spiritual consultations to appease what he described as an offended ancestral spirit.
Meanwhile, a member of the traditional worshippers’ group, who identified himself as its secretary, alleged suppression by the Christian community.
He accused members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement of secretly placing and lighting a large candle beneath the tree, claiming the heat may have weakened its structure over time and led to the collapse.
The spokesperson of the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Nsukka, confirmed that 11 persons died in the incident, while four others are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility.
The tragedy has left the Awhum community in mourning, even as authorities and community leaders continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the centuries-old tree.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
ALSO READ: NNPC, Dangote Team Up to Power Nigeria’s Energy Future
A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Appeal Court Deals Major Blow to Aiyedatiwa’s Re-election Hopes in Ondo
After Turbulent Elections, Portugal Swears In Seguro as President
JUST IN: Nigerians Reeling as Dangote Sparks Another Spike in Fuel Prices
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
