Lion kills Obasanjo library zoo worker
Tragedy occurred at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Zoo, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, on Saturday as a lion killed a 35-year-old worker, Babaji Daule, at the zoo.
The spokesman for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.
“A deadly incident involving a wild animal attack has been reported by the Area Commander Metro on September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 hrs by the Chief Security Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, who informed the Divisional Police Officer that a 35-year-old man named Babaji Daule from Bauchi State, who is a trained handler of a male lion at the Zoological Garden in OOPL Abeokuta, tragically lost his life, Odutola said.
“It was discovered that the lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal,” he added.
The late lion handler who hailed from Bauchi reportedly forgot to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the wild animal. Consequently, the deadly lion broke away and attacked him with serious injuries on his neck which eventually led to his death.
D’GALLERYTV gathered that the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the victim before his corpse was removed and deposited in the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital.
While explaining how the victim lost his life, Odutola said: “This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death.”
The park’s management which also spoke on the incident in a statement on Sunday, said that the incident occurred when some guests arrived after the park’s closing time.
On their request, the zookeeper agreed to demonstrate the feeding routine of the lion in its inner enclosure.
“The zookeeper, feeling comfortable with the animal, left the safety gate open and proceeded to feed the lion. He was attacked and killed on the spot,” the statement read.
“To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by the personnel of the park.
“It is important to state that this activity fell completely outside the standard feeding routine of the park.
“Investigations have begun, and the matter has since been reported to the police for their investigation,” the park’s management said.
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