A zookeeper identified as Babaji Daule, 35, has been killed by a lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Ogun State police spokesperson Omolola Odutola, said Sunday in a statement that Mr. Daule was killed on Saturday September 28, when he was attempting to feed the lion. The zookeeper was said to have forgot to secure the locks to the enclosure that held the lion, before venturing into the cage to drop the meal.
“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.”
