By Abbas Nazil
Residents of Itasin-Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused the state’s Commissioner for Forestry, Oludotun Taiwo, of spreading false information in the wake of a fatal elephant attack that claimed the life of a logger, 49-year-old Yayah Musa Kalamu.
In a statement issued by the Imobi Elites Forum and signed by its General Secretary, Sanariu Abimbola, the community expressed their dissatisfaction with the Commissioner’s remarks, insisting that his account of the situation was misleading and failed to represent the realities on the ground.
The group appreciated the prompt response of the Ministry but stressed the need for factual communication, highlighting that misinformation could erode public trust and worsen the relationship between the government and the community.
The forum clarified that Itasin-Imobi has never been designated a wildlife or forest reserve by the Ogun State Government.
They challenged the Commissioner to provide proof of any such classification, noting that the community has no signage, fencing, or government indication of a protected status.
They also clarified that the land is historically inhabited and cultivated by generations, housing the second-oldest Catholic Church in Nigeria since 1864.
The residents rejected the Commissioner’s claims that government had carried out sensitization and installed infrastructure such as signposts or barriers in the area.
They asserted that only the West Africa Biodiversity Conservation Trust (WABCT) had initiated any public education efforts, beginning in 2018 after the elephants migrated into their land.
The elephants reportedly crossed the Sagamu–Benin Expressway from Omo Forest Reserve and settled in Itasin-Imobi.
They have remained ever since, occasionally grazing near residential areas and causing fear among locals.
The forum also debunked the claim that the area spans over 6,000 hectares and emphasized that the forested area is closer to 60 square kilometers.
They added that it is not a forest reserve but a recognized settlement that contributes economically to the state through agriculture and logging.
Residents lamented that forest rangers have never been seen in their locality, further invalidating the Commissioner’s statements about regular monitoring and enforcement in the area.
They disclosed that the late Oba Felix Adegbesan, the Onitasin of Itasin-Imobi, had been instrumental in managing logging activities and maintaining peace between humans and elephants before his death about a year ago.
Since then, loggers have reportedly spread deeper into the forest, creating an environment that possibly agitated the elephants.
The forum urged the Ogun State Government to take immediate responsibility by collaborating with wildlife experts to relocate the elephants back to their natural habitat in the Omo Forest Reserve.
Until then, they called for ongoing sensitization campaigns to educate residents on peaceful coexistence with wildlife.
They also demanded that the government review its records, correct public statements, and engage directly with the community to avoid further tragedies.
They cautioned against labeling Itasin-Imobi as a protected reserve without clear evidence or prior community consultation.
Contrary to some reports, residents stated that the deceased, Kalamu, was not simply a farmer but a known logger who belonged to Itasi and Ilumoye Development, an association involved in timber work.
The elephant attack on July 28, 2025, which led to his death, was the first recorded fatal encounter, despite the animals’ presence in the area since 2018.
Residents maintained that their fears and warnings had been ignored by the government for seven years.
They insisted that the Commissioner’s statement claiming elephants only attack when provoked was insensitive, given that most locals are still unfamiliar with elephant behavior and live in fear due to the unexpected wildlife invasion.
They reiterated their support for forest regulation but demanded that the government acknowledge their ancestral rights to the land and involve them in any conservation or regulatory measures.
The community ended the statement by appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene urgently and ensure that the situation is resolved in a humane and effective manner, before more lives are lost.
