Tragedy struck at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where a lion fatally attacked its handler, Babaji Daule.
Sources from Vanguard reported that the unfortunate event took place in the early hours of Saturday in Abeokuta.
Further information revealed that Daule, a 35-year-old man from Bauchi State, was attacked by the lion within the Zoological Garden of the OOPL.
The incident, which was reported around 7:40 a.m. by the Chief Security Officer of the facility, allegedly occurred when Daule, a trained handler, failed to properly secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before approaching to feed the animal.
“This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack him, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death.
“The victim’s body was removed and taken to the mortuary at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.”
The spokesperson for the State command of the Nigeria Police, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the sad incident.
She 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 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”.
(Vanguard)
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