Tragedy in Ogun: Wandering Elephants Kill Father of Five in Ijebu East

“I could hear the struggle between my father and the elephant. I rushed back into the village to call for help, but when we returned, we met him with his intestines spilling out, one leg broken, and deep cuts all over his body,” 16-year-old Musa Korede recounted soberly.

Korede, the eldest son of the late Musa Yahaya Kala, was by his father’s side in the forest when the tragedy struck on Monday, July 28, 2025.

The 49-year-old, a father of five, was gruesomely mauled by elephants in Itasin community, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, PulseNets learnt.

While some villagers described him as a farmer, others insisted he was a logger, felling trees within the elephant’s range.

‘We ran in different directions’

Narrating to PulseNets, Korede said two elephants confronted them just as they were about to begin work.

He explained:

“I found a place to hide, but I kept hearing the noise of my father and the elephant that ran after him. I later found a path and decided to go see what was happening. Along the way, I met a resident, and together we went back to the farm.

“When we called his name, he responded faintly. He was too weak to stand. Then we saw the elephants approaching again, so we ran back to the village for help. But when we returned with others, his intestines were out, his leg broken. By then, he could no longer be saved.”

Korede told PulseNets that by the time his father was carried back to the village, he had already passed on.

A Community Living in Fear

PulseNets reported that Itasin, a fishing and farming settlement in Imobi, has become a nightmare for residents following years of elephant incursions.

Initially, the elephants that strayed into the community about seven years ago were described as harmless—feeding on bananas and plantains. But the situation has since turned deadly.

Now, the sound of elephants crashing through the bush sends residents running, fearing attacks. The menace has worsened their daily struggles, which already include bad roads, lack of electricity, poor infrastructure, and unsafe water supply.

Community sources told PulseNets that the elephant population is estimated at nearly 100, wreaking havoc on farms and fishing activities since 2018, with the latest victim being Musa Kala.

Widow’s Cry: ‘They Destroyed My Only Hope’

Residents said the attacks are not new. In fact, a widow, Oluwaremi Oluwafunke, told PulseNets that elephants had devastated her livelihood multiple times.

Her words:

“In 2018, I invested over N250,000 in farmland with a loan. Just a day after planting, the elephants destroyed everything. This year again, I put in money and effort, and they came back to ruin it all. I am a widow, this is my only means of survival.”

Another farmer, Ajumosu Odunaike, lamented that women in the town are now unable to harvest crops or even fetch firewood without fear.

“We plant, but we don’t harvest. The elephants eat everything. Palm kernel farming is how we feed our children, but they don’t allow us to stay on the farms. Even fetching firewood or processing cassava into garri is now dangerous,” she said, adding that another man was recently killed, leaving behind a widow and orphans.

Survivors Relive Horrors

PulseNets also spoke with survivors of past attacks.

Bello Kunle, a woodcutter injured on March 15, 2023, said:

“I never attacked the elephant, but it came at me. I was hunting for snails and bush meat with a friend when it attacked. Since then, I cannot work actively as before. Wood cutting and farming are hard work, I have two wives and children to feed.”

Another victim, Kazeem Badmus, a chainsaw operator, told PulseNets that four elephants attacked him in 2024. He underwent surgery and was bedridden for almost a year before recently returning to work.

Community Leaders and Lawmakers Cry Out

The Adele Oba of the community, High Chief Adedoyin Ajayi, appealed to the Ogun State Government to intervene.

“The elephants should be relocated, even if it means turning the place into a zoo. Our people can no longer work; many are in debt. The family of the deceased needs help because he was the breadwinner,” Ajayi told PulseNets.

Similarly, Owode Ifedolapo, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Ijebu East Constituency, urged the state and wildlife agencies to take urgent steps.

“This tragedy highlights the need for coordinated efforts between conservation agencies, local authorities, and government. Our communities should not live in fear of wildlife attacks. We must balance conservation with safety,” Ifedolapo stated.

Government’s Position: ‘It’s a Conservation Area’

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Oludotun Taiwo, insisted that the forest in question is a designated conservation area covering over 6,000 hectares, not farmland.

Also Read: Lawmaker cries out as elephants attack villagers, destroy farmlands in Ogun

He told PulseNets that despite warnings, sensitization, and demolition of illegal settlements, people continued to invade the conservation zone for logging and farming.

“It’s unfortunate, but this forest is for wildlife conservation, not farming. The elephants are not naturally aggressive; they only react when provoked. The deceased was logging illegally. We’ve placed barriers, erected signboards, and demolished illegal settlements, but people keep returning,” Taiwo said.

While sympathizing with the victim’s family, the commissioner assured residents that the government would take necessary measures to prevent further loss of lives.