LAGOS – A lion has reportedly killed its handler at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) zoological garden, Abeokuta.
The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Babaji Duale.
However, the male beast was reported to have been put down immediately.
Duale, a native of Bauchi State, was a trained handler of the wild lions in the zoo.
According to a statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, on Sunday, Duale, was said to have been careless by not securing the locks to barricade the lion’s enclosure before feeding the beast.
The wild animal was said to have escaped and attacked the victim on the neck which resulted to death.
The statement read: “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 of 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
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“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.”
The management of OOPL Wildlife Park confirmed the tragic incident in a statement Saturday evening.
The statement reads, “This evening, a zookeeper with the OOPL Wildlife Park was tragically mauled to death.
“The zookeeper, at the heeding of some guests who came after the closing time of the park, agreed to take the guests to demonstrate the feeding routine of the lion in its inner enclosure. The zookeeper, apparently, feeling comfortable with the animal, left the safety protection gate open and proceeded to feed the animal. He was mauled by the animal and died 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 out of 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 commiserates with the family of the deceased.
“We wish to assure the public that the park is committed to the highest standard of safety and protection both for visiting members of the public, wildlife staff and for the Wildlife itself.”
