Tragedy As Lion Kills Keeper at Obasanjo Wild Life Park, Police React
- A male lion has reportedly attacked and killed its handler, 35-year-old Babaji Daule, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Ogun state
- The victim was said to have been careless by not securing the locks and barricading the lion’s enclosure before feeding the wild animal
- The spokesperson of the Ogun state police command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the unfortunate development and disclosed the force's next action
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The Nigeria Police Force has begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a zoo keeper, identified as Babaji Daule, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
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The Ogun state police command’s public relations officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this to The Punch on Sunday, September 29.
How the lion handler was killed
According to Odutola, Daule, a 35-year-old native of the state, reportedly forgot to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the wild animal.
The lion was said to have escaped as a result of the carelessness and attacked Daule, “resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death.”
She added that the remains of the victim were taken to the State Hospital morgue at Ijaye, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, while the lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.
In a follow-up conversation with The Punch, Odutola said an investigation had commenced into the matter.
She said:
“An investigation has commenced into the incident. The public will be informed of further findings.”
OOPL Wildlife Park management reacts
As reported by PremiumTimes, the management of the OOPL Wildlife Park also issued a statement and noted that it was probing the incident.
This came days after a mother hippopotamus tragically killed Usman Maigadi, a 60-year-old guard, at Orchid Farm in Kebbi state.
The attack occurred while Maigadi was fishing in the Yauri River, and was likely perceived as a threat by the animal.
OAU's 9-year-old lion kills staff
Similarly, Legit.ng reported that an OAU staff, Olabode Olawuyi, was murdered by a lion in the university's zoological garden.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the spokesperson of the university, disclosed the incident in a statement.
According to Olanrewaju, Olawuyi was attacked while feeding the lion, an activity he had done for over nine years.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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