Tag: Ogun State news

Sixteen-year-old Musa Korede could barely hold back tears as he narrated the chilling moment that forever changed his life. “I heard the loud struggle between my father and the elephant. I ran back to the village for help, but when we returned, we found him on the ground, his intestines out, one leg broken, and bruises covering his body,” Korede recalled with deep pain. His father, Musa Yahaya Kala, a 49-year-old father of five, was fatally attacked by elephants in Itasin community, Ijebu East Local Government Area, Ogun State, on Monday, July 28, 2025. While some villagers described the victim as a farmer, others said he was a logger cutting trees in the elephants’ territory. According to Korede, two elephants charged at them just as they began their day’s work. In fear, they ran in opposite directions. “I managed to hide safely, but I soon heard my father’s cries. When I traced the path back with another villager, we found him weak and bleeding. The elephants appeared again, forcing us to retreat. By the time we returned with more people, my father had already died,” Korede said. A Community Living in Fear Once known for fishing and farming, Itasin, Imobi has turned into a community living in dread. The elephants, which wandered into the area seven years ago, were initially harmless—roaming freely and feeding on plantains and bananas. But in recent years, they have grown violent, attacking people, farms, and property. Now, the thundering sound of elephants in the forest strikes fear into the villagers. Already battling bad roads, lack of electricity, poor water supply, and deteriorating infrastructure for over a decade, the residents now face an added terror—wandering elephants estimated to number about 100. Since 2018, farms, fishing equipment, and properties have been destroyed repeatedly, with the latest tragedy being the death of Musa Kala. Endless Losses Since 2018 For Oluwaremi Oluwafunke, a widow in the community, the elephants have left a trail of destruction. “In 2018, I borrowed over ₦250,000 for farming. Just a day after planting, elephants destroyed everything. This year, I tried again, but they ruined my farm again. I am a widow, farming is my only survival,” she lamented. Similarly, palm kernel farmer Ajumosu Odunaike said their livelihoods have been crippled. “We plant, but never harvest. Elephants eat everything. Even fetching firewood or processing cassava into garri has become dangerous. Recently, they killed another man, leaving his wife and children helpless,” she revealed. Survivors Share Their Pain Bello Kunle, a woodcutter, survived an elephant attack on March 15, 2023. “People say elephants don’t attack first—it’s a lie. I didn’t provoke it. That night, while hunting snails and bush meat, an elephant attacked me, leaving deep injuries. Since then, I cannot work fully. I have two wives and children, but my strength is gone,” he confessed. Another victim, Kazeem Badmus, a chainsaw operator, said he was attacked by four elephants while logging in 2024. He underwent surgery and could not work for almost a year. Community Leaders and Lawmakers Call for Action The Adele Oba of Itasin, High Chief Adedoyin Ajayi, urged the government to urgently intervene. “Business activities here have collapsed, and debts keep rising. The elephants should be relocated to restore peace. Families of victims must be supported, especially children who lost their fathers,” he appealed. Also, Owode Ifedolapo, member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, pressed for preventive measures. “This is a wake-up call for balance between conservation and human safety. Government, conservation agencies, and local authorities must act quickly,” he said. Government Defends Elephant Conservation However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Oludotun Taiwo, emphasized that the area is a wildlife conservation zone, not farmland. “The forest spans over 6,000 hectares and was approved strictly for elephant conservation. Sadly, people keep returning illegally for logging and farming despite warnings, signboards, and demolitions. These elephants are naturally not aggressive unless provoked,” he explained. While expressing sympathy, he urged residents to respect conservation boundaries to prevent further tragedy. Conclusion The battle between humans and elephants in Itasin, Ogun State, reflects a larger conflict between conservation and survival. While elephants are protected, villagers—mostly farmers and fishermen—are left vulnerable, losing lives and livelihoods. The community waits anxiously for government action that balances wildlife protection with human safety.

By Emmanuel

August 17, 2025August 17, 2025