A lion at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State has killed one of its handlers.
The 35-year-old victim, identified as Babaji Daule, hailed from Bauchi State.
The Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday
According to her, the incident was reported by the Chief Security officer of the presidential library.
The statement reads: “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 the Chief Security Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library 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.
“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.
This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death
“The victim’s body was removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.”