Around July 1966, a hunter by the name Carpenter Onwu (I think a native of Awgwu of Enugu State) who lived then at Ndea Ayama Compound, in front of Amafia Compound, doubled as a hunter. One day he went for the usual expedition in the night and in the process sighted a huge image he thought was a farm hut but that turned out to be an animal, a strange Elephant. He alerted the Asaga community on what he saw, that threw the village into utter confusion.
The Elephant was sighted at the Asaga OGS area (Ikwu-Ogo Ndea Nsi), land of Ndea Nsi Okwara.
This instigated Asaga brave warriors and hunters including the bravely dreaded Elum, Obaji Eke that did all to subdue and killed the Elephant. All efforts to no avail, other Ohafia warriors and hunters were invited to kill the strange animal. In the process some casualties were recorded, including Nna Mba Nwoke, the Man from Eziafor, and others. Luckily, no one was killed as a result.
The Elephant was subjected to great rendition of bullets from den guns, cartridges, single and double barrels, etc.
The Elephant was eventually killed.
The Man from Amaekpu who then owned a licensed Riffle gun was used to cover up as he who killed the Elephant, because the guns used by our hunters were regarded as illegal possession by the government of the day. He and the categories of late Prof. Kalu Ezera owned such licensed Riffle gun. For the records, the man Teacher Nkata from Amaekpu did not single-handedly killed the giant Elephant. (Those who were of age then, can testify to this).
The Elephant meat was cut to sizes and shared to all the 26 villages in Ohafia; the head is still at Asaga for cultural dance display. When killed, the body was deposited at Ogbo-Ukwu, Asaga. The elephant was decorated with Okpu-Agu and Eagle feather. Two age grades were appointed to drag the body through Uzo Amafia to the Ogbo-Ukwu Square. I remember as a stubborn kid, I joined bigger boys to surge ahead to view the slained Elephant.
On the very fateful day, we were at school, PCN (Uma Ukpai Primary school) when the news filtered in of the strange animal, and the school was shut down to enable school pupils to return home for safety.
Contrary to insinuations, the Elephant was not rampaging at initial stage until it began to receive hell of bullets, and in the process to safe its life and escape destroyed farm products, farm huts (Agbala-Ubi).
If the animal was aggressive, nothing would have stopped it to move into Asaga to attack people and houses with its trunks and tusks.
The strange thing about the Elephant is:
1) There was no thick forest to have shielded the huge elephant, or to live within Ohafia.
2) Funny enough, villages surrounding Asaga - Ufiele, Ndea Ibe, Biakpan, Eziafor, Ndea Orieke had no such bush, and never sighted such a huge image. How come it was suddenly seen at Asaga
3) The Ugwu-Okwasi, and other adjoining hills would have given the strange elephant upheaval task to climb, heading to Asaga.
4) There are mysteries surrounding the appearance of such animal that from existence of Ohafia there has never been found an Elephant in Ohafia bushes. Up till date, there is no trace of another elephant in the wide Ohafia bushes.
How come, only one Elephant lived and strolls in a whole clan - no parent, siblings, no husband, nor wife. A lone Elephant in a bush - how possible, except by mystery. Asaga is surrounded by chain hills, either you are climbing or descending.
Those who is privy on the mystery arrival of a lone Elephant to Asaga, should please assist.
Though a kid then, but witnessed all that happened. I stood behind the assemblage to catch a glimps the strange animal to Asaga.
Apostle Dr. Kalu Amogu Nnochin.
(Updated 20/08/2025).
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