Tusks of Terror: Elephant Attacks Leave Ogun Community Living in Fear

A Son’s Harrowing Account of His Father’s Deadly Encounter

“I could hear the noise of my father and the elephant. I ran back into the village to call for help, but by the time we returned, we found him with his intestines exposed, one leg broken, and bruises covering his body,” recounted 16-year-old Musa Korede, his voice trembling with grief.

The teenager had been accompanying his father, 49-year-old Musa Yahaya Kala, when tragedy struck on July 28, 2025, in Itasin community within Ogun State’s Ijebu East local government area. What began as an ordinary day of work ended in unimaginable horror when two elephants ambushed the pair.

A Community Under Siege

Itasin, traditionally a peaceful farming and fishing community, has transformed into a danger zone over the past seven years. The elephants, initially welcomed as gentle giants who merely feasted on bananas and plantains, have become increasingly aggressive. Now numbering approximately 100, these massive creatures have turned the forest into a battleground.

Residents describe living in constant fear—farmers can’t tend their crops, fishermen avoid the waterways, and even gathering firewood has become a life-threatening activity. The community’s struggles with basic infrastructure—bad roads, no electricity, and limited clean water—have now been compounded by this ecological crisis.

Voices from the Frontlines

The Widow’s Plight

Oluwaremi Oluwafunke, a widow and farmer, shared her heartbreaking story: “In 2018, I invested ₦250,000—borrowed at high interest—into my farm. The elephants destroyed everything overnight. This year, they’ve done it again. This is my only means of survival.” Her account echoes throughout the community, where economic devastation walks hand-in-hand with physical danger.

Survivors’ Stories

Bello Kunle, a woodcutter and farmer, still bears the physical and psychological scars from his March 2023 attack. “I didn’t provoke the elephant, yet it charged at me while I was hunting snails. Since then, I can’t work like before,” he lamented, worrying about providing for his two wives and children.

Another survivor, chainsaw operator Kazeem Badmus, described his encounter with four elephants last year that left him hospitalized for months. “The surgical procedures saved my life, but I lost nearly a year of work,” he revealed.

Government Response and Conservation Dilemma

High Chief Adedoyin Ajayi, the community’s Adele Oba, made an impassioned plea: “We beg the government to relocate these elephants—to a zoo or wherever. We coexisted peacefully before, but now we can’t continue like this.” He emphasized the need to support the deceased’s family, particularly his five children left without their breadwinner.

Owode Ifedolapo, the local representative in Ogun State’s House of Assembly, called for immediate action: “This tragedy highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts between conservation agencies and government. Our communities shouldn’t live in fear.” He proposed a conservationist development plan to establish safe boundaries between humans and wildlife.

The Forestry Commissioner’s Stance

Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry Oludotun Taiwo offered a different perspective, stating the attacked area was officially designated as an elephant conservation zone spanning 6,000 hectares. “Despite repeated warnings and demolitions of illegal settlements, people continue entering these protected areas,” he explained.

Taiwo clarified that the deceased was reportedly engaged in illegal logging rather than farming. “Elephants aren’t naturally aggressive—they retaliate when threatened. We’ve conducted extensive sensitization campaigns,” he asserted, while expressing sympathy for the victim’s family.

A Complex Crisis with No Easy Solutions

This tragedy underscores the growing conflict between human settlement and wildlife conservation across Africa. As communities expand into traditional animal habitats and climate change alters migration patterns, such deadly encounters may become more frequent.

Experts suggest potential solutions could include:

• Establishing clear buffer zones with physical barriers
• Implementing early warning systems using technology
• Creating alternative livelihoods for affected communities
• Developing comprehensive wildlife management plans

For now, the people of Itasin remain trapped between the need to earn a living and the very real danger lurking in their forests. As children like Musa Korede mourn lost parents and farmers like Oluwaremi Oluwafunke face financial ruin, the question remains: How can Nigeria balance ecological preservation with human safety and economic survival?

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