The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday said a 35-year-old zoo worker at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, has been kìlled by lion in his care
The spokesman for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, in statement on Sunday, said the victim was an indigene of Bauchi State.
The victim, SP Omolola added, was said to be a lion handler but on Saturday, the wild cat attacked him while trying to feed it, seizing him by the neck and inflicted grave injuries, resulting in his death afterwards.
It was learnt that he forgot to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s house before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
The remains of the zoo worker have been evacuated to the morgue to Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was sent to sleep through shooting to let go its grip on the handler.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson said, “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.
“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.”
Also, the park’s management in a statement on Sunday, said the incident occurred when some guests arrived after the park’s closing hour.
And deferring to them, the zookeeper agreed to feed the lion in its inner enclosure and met his end.
“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.
“To prevent further mutilation of the body, the animal was put down immediately by 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 handler could have been spared of the blame,the words carelessly and negligent should not have been deployed here on the ground that the handler is not in position to defend himself.
We should take cognizance of the fact that he is a son ,a husband and father to some people.