A tragic incident has unfolded in Onitasin Imobi, a rural settlement in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where a farmer was killed by a herd of elephants believed to have escaped from a government forest reserve.
The victim, identified as Musa Kalamu, was attacked on Monday afternoon and reportedly died while being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the incident, stating that the Divisional Police Officer in Ogbere received a distress call around 4:20 p.m. reporting the fatal elephant attack.
Echoing the police report, the State Commissioner for Forestry, Mr. Taiwo Oludotun, disclosed that the elephants had broken free from a government-managed reserve before attacking Kalamu. “The DPO received information from Itasin community at about 16:20hrs that elephants escaped and attacked one Musa Kalamu, who later died en route to the hospital,” Oludotun said.
He added that officials from the State Forestry Department were quickly dispatched to the area to prevent further incidents and ensure the animals were contained. “The situation is now under control, and peace has returned to the community,” he assured.
Meanwhile, a disturbing video of the farmer’s lifeless body has surfaced online, sparking fresh concerns over the safety of communities located near wildlife reserves.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine how the elephants escaped and to prevent future occurrences.
