Elephants take over Ogun farmlands, injure villagers
A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Sola Adams, has cried out over invasion of farmlands by elephants in communities in Ogun State and the attendant security risk to lives and properties of the people.
The lawmaker who called attention to the plight of his constituents on the floor of the house, added that the elephants injured a farmer at Itashin in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.
Adams said the recent incident where elephants attacked villagers in his constituency remains worrisome.
The lawmaker stated that the injured farmer was receiving treatment at Ijebu Ode General Hospital, calling on the relevant agencies to do the needful and return the elephants to where they should be.
Responding, the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, sympathised with the farmers over the invasion of their farm settlements by the elephants. He, however, advised farmers to stop further encroachment on the natural habitat of elephants.
According to him, the issue of elephants’ incursion into town which occurred at Itasin in Ijebu East, required the state Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry to engage the Nigerian Conservative Foundation.
“This is towards preserving the species and the entire ecosystem,” he said.
Also during the plenary, the speaker challenged the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Security Matters, Olusola Subair, to explore the State Security Trust Fund for the procurement of more security equipment to protect the people across the state.
The speaker said the government needs to procure more security materials especially in the riverine areas to beef up the security of lives and property of residents.
He made the call while responding to the submission of his Deputy, Akeem Balogun, and Deputy Chief Whip, Olusola Adams.
The lawmakers spoke on the need to tighten security around the border areas with Lagos and Ondo states, especially around Ode-Omi, Iwopin in Ogun Waterside, and Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government Areas, respectively.
