Panic and sorrow have gripped the rural community of Onitasin Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State following the tragic death of a farmer, Musa Kalamu, who was fatally trampled by a herd of elephants believed to have escaped from a government-protected forest reserve.
The harrowing incident, which occurred around 4:20 p.m. on Monday, July 28, has raised urgent concerns about wildlife safety and human-animal conflict in communities bordering forest reserves.
Confirming the chilling development, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, told journalists that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ogbere received a distress call from the Itasin community, alerting authorities to the deadly encounter.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the elephants, which escaped from the government reserve, attacked Mr. Musa Kalamu, who sadly died while being rushed to the hospital,” Ogunlowo said.
Ogun State’s Commissioner for Forestry, Mr. Taiwo Oludotun, also verified the incident, stating that officials from the State Forestry Department were immediately dispatched to contain the animals and prevent further casualties or destruction.
“Officers of the Ogun State Forestry Department have been mobilised to track and contain the elephants to avoid further harm. We are on top of the situation, and calm has returned to the area,” Oludotun assured.
A graphic video of the victim’s lifeless body, allegedly captured by local residents moments after the attack, has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and calls for increased government intervention to safeguard lives in communities close to wildlife habitats.
This is not the first time that communities near forest reserves in Nigeria have reported alarming encounters with wild animals. However, this latest incident marks one of the deadliest in recent years, raising fresh questions about the management of wildlife and the safety measures in place to prevent such tragic outcomes.
As investigations continue, residents are calling on the Ogun State Government to not only capture and relocate the rogue elephants but also establish an early warning system to avert similar tragedies in the future.
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