It was a weekend of tragedy on Saturday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when a lion attacked and killed its handler, in the early hours of the day.
Witnesses told newsreportersng.com that the incident happened at the Zoological Garden located within the OOPL complex when the handler who was identified as Babaji Daule,, a 35-year-old man from Bauchi State, was fatally attacked by the male lion while attempting to feed the animal.
It was learnt that Daule had “carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage,” which allowed the lion to escape and launch the fatal attack.
The attack, which occurred around 7:40 a.m., resulted in severe injuries to Daule’s neck, leading to his death. The lion reportedly held on to the handler, and efforts to subdue the animal involved shooting it to release its grip on the victim.
The incident was promptly reported by the Chief Security Officer of the OOPL to the police. SP Omolola Odutola, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed the tragic event, stating, “The lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal, which led to the attack and the handler’s eventual death.”
Daule’s body has been taken to the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, for further procedures.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while the OOPL complex remains under close observation to ensure safety following the tragic event.