A tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning as a wandering elephant reportedly killed a local farmer in a remote village near Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The victim, a 55-year-old man identified as Mr. Adekunle Alade, was said to have been working on his farm when he encountered the elephant. Eyewitnesses report that the animal appeared agitated and charged at the farmer before he could escape. Local residents say they had seen signs of the elephant in nearby areas for days, but no official action was taken.
Authorities from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment and the state’s Forestry Commission have confirmed the incident and are currently working to trace the path of the elephant. It is believed that the animal may have strayed from a nearby forest reserve or crossed into Ogun from a neighboring state in search of food and water due to seasonal migration patterns.
Ogun State Government, in a brief statement, expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased and promised immediate investigation into the matter. "We are taking this issue seriously," said Mr. Olumide Hassan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment. "A joint task force of wildlife experts and local security operatives has been deployed to monitor and, if necessary, relocate the animal to prevent further harm."
The tragic event has sparked concern among farming communities across Ogun, especially those living close to forest areas. Local leaders are calling for more proactive wildlife management policies and protective measures for rural farmers.
"This could have been avoided," said Chief Sulaimon Fagbohun, a community elder. "We have reported wild animal sightings for weeks, but no one listened until this happened. We need urgent intervention before more lives are lost."