Rampaging Elephant Kills Farmer in Ogun State

Elephant Kills Farmer

A tragic incident has once again spotlighted the growing conflict between humans and wildlife in Nigeria. On Monday, July 28, 2025, a farmer, Musa Kalamu, was brutally killed by a wild elephant in Itasin-Imobi, a rural community in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the elephant believed to have wandered out of a nearby government-reserved forest invaded Kalamu’s farm and launched a deadly attack, leading to severe injuries that claimed his life en route to the hospital. Residents of Itasin-Imobi have expressed both sorrow and deep frustration over the recurring elephant invasions, which have been ongoing for more than four years.

“This elephant keeps coming into our community to destroy our crops, damage our fishing nets, and now it has taken a life,” a local resident lamented.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for urgent government intervention, with villagers begging for lasting solutions before more lives are lost. A disturbing viral video circulating on social media shows Kalamu’s lifeless body with visible signs of a brutal trampling injuries so severe that his intestines were exposed.

Officials have confirmed the incident. Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, acknowledged the attack and said the ministry is already on its way to assess the situation on ground. Similarly, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed in a statement that the elephant indeed escaped from a government reserve and attacked the victim.

“The DPO Ogbere received a distress call from the Itasin community around 4:20 p.m. on July 28. Officers of the State Forestry were contacted to curtail the animal and prevent further harm. Calm has since returned to the area,” Ogunlowo added.

This is not the first time wildlife from government forest reserves has posed a threat to nearby farming communities. Local farmers claim their appeals to the government have largely fallen on deaf ears. Apart from crops being destroyed regularly, they now fear for their own lives and those of their families.

The situation raises serious concerns about wildlife management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and the safety of rural populations living near forest reserves. While forest conservation remains a critical part of ecological sustainability, experts argue that it should not come at the cost of human life.

This deadly elephant attack calls for an urgent multi-agency response. Recommendations include:

• Relocation or containment of stray elephants within secure wildlife reserves.

• Installation of protective barriers or fencing to separate reserve boundaries from residential or farming areas.

• Compensation and support programs for affected communities.

• Ongoing surveillance and rapid response teams for wildlife emergencies.

• Community awareness programs on how to safely respond during wildlife encounters.

The tragic death of Musa Kalamu is more than just an isolated incident—it is a warning sign. Without swift and strategic intervention, Ogun State and other forest-adjacent communities in Nigeria risk facing similar tragedies.

The people of Itasin-Imobi are not just mourning a farmer; they are demanding dignity, safety, and action.

Read this: Trampled by Trust: Rethinking Elephant Safety in Africa