Fresh facts emerge over killing of man by elephants in Ijebuland 

By Bose Adelaja

CITIZENS COMPASS—Fresh facts emerged on Tuesday, over the death of a 49-year-old logger, Yayah Musa Kalamu, who was reportedly killed by a group of elephants in a forest in the Itasin-Imobi community, Ijebu East Local Government, Ogbere, Ogun State.

Contrary to some reports that the deceased was a farmer, some residents of the community who spoke with Citizens Compass said Kalamu met his untimely death while felling logs of wood in the forest.

His untimely death occurred yesterday.

Fresh facts also emerged that the forest was not a government reserve.

Citizens Compass gathered that he was a member of Itasi and Ilumoye Development, an association known for logging of wood in the area.

The deceased was said to have gone to the forest alongside his son, Korede, when a group of elephants ran into them, unfortunately one of them hit Kalamu with its tusk, pulled out his intestine and the rest was history.

Luckily for Korede, he ran as far as his breath could carry him to alert other residents ,but by the time help could come, the father was found half dead and was rushed to the hospital, sadly, he died on the way.”

In the midst of this, residents of Itasin-Imobi community blamed the state government for insensitivity and negligence for the past seven years.

Government insensitivity 

Citizens Compass learnt that from nowhere, the group of elephants migrated to the thick forest in Itasin-Imobi in 2018.

Sensing danger, the community leaders wrote series of letters notifying the Ogun State Government about the migration but it is sad to hear that there was no cogent response till date.

Residents said the elephants sometimes come out of the forest to stay near the community but there was no record of fatality like that of yesterday, as the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Felix Adegbesan, the Onitasin of Itasin-Imobi, was able to control the excesses of the loggers unfortunately he joined his ancestors about a year ago.

Excesses

Citizens Compass learnt that the loggers association seized the advantage of the demise of the monarch to grow their excesses as their members were said to have scattered themselves into the forest to locally log wood.

With the logging, the forest was said to have become uncomfortable for the elephants which usually troop out of the forest incase of logging.

Speaking with our Correspondent, a resident of Itasin-Imobi, Mr Nofiu Lawal, said yesterday, Kalamu and his son had moved their local machine to the forest and the unusual noise from the local machine chased the elephants out of their comfort zone. He said, “After hours of work, both of them sat under a tree to rest when the elephants charged at them. Rather than run for his dear life, Kalamu thought he could overpower the elephants but this turned out to be his undoing as they grew wild and one of them grew wilder hitting Kalamu with it’s tusk.

“His son was fortunate to escape the scene while his father could not.”

Lawal also attributed the tragedy to the Obaship tussle following the demise of the Onitasin.“When the monarch was alive, there was control over the land until he joined his ancestors in July 2024 and the loggers took laws into their hands not minding the laid down procedures.

Apart from this, the Obaship tussle may have contributed to the tragedy following a wrong process by one of the royal families which is taking its toll on the tradition of the land.”

Findings revealed that the local government has put on hold the  process for the Itasin-Imobi stool as the royal families were not in tandem with the person chosen by the Oracle to ascend the throne.

Despite this, a traditional leader (names withheld) was said to have defied the local government and the Oracle‘s order by wrongfully choosing a successor and commenced the first stage of traditional rites without the consent of the local government. “Whereas, the Oracle had warned that should  a wrong person be chosen for the throne, the communities would suffer huge consequences.

“With the Obaship tussle, those who are benefiting from the logging activities would not want the government to relocate the elephants. It’s a thick forest but not a government forest reserve.” He said.

Itasin-Imobi community comprises 27 other communities which are;

Totunba-Imobi, Uba-Imobi, Toliwo-Imobi, Malara-Imobi, Tidenurin-lmobi, Trianga Imobi, Fowoseje-Imobi, Mafowoku-Imobi, Tekuile-Imobi and Togunsilu-Imobi.

Others are; Okemakun-Imobi, Itapanpa -Imobi, FotedoOgunewu-Imobi, ToliwoToga-Imobi, Luwako-Imobi, Ebute-Imobi, Dopanu-Imobi, OkiIgbode-Imobi, Itasin-Imobi, Tonigbo-Imobi, Araromi-Imobi, Okemayan-Imobi, EbureLoboye-Imobi, EbuteIjagba-Imobi, Olorungbesan-Imobi, Imayan-Imobi and Orita-Imobi

In a chat with Citizens Compass, the Olisa of Itasin,Chief Obilana Adewale, said for three years, the state government had banned logging activities in the forest but lack of follow up by government representatives has contributed to the tragedy.

Addressing journalists in his office, the Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry. Oludotun Taiwo, has commiserated with the bereaved family.

He appealed for calm among residents, assuring that their predicament would be looked into.