A lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta has killed its handler.
The lion, according to report attacked Babaji Daule, a 35-year-old man working at the Zoological Garden of the Presidential library on Saturday morning.
Information obtained from the office of the Police Public Relations officer in Ogun State, Omolola Odutola, stated that the incident was reported at about 7:40am by the Chief Security Officer of the Presidential library.
The information indicated that the tragic incident occurred when the trained handler of the male lion at the Zoological Garden failed to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
The victim’s body has since been removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.
While confirming the incident, the management of the OOPL Wildlife park, through a press state obtained by TVC News said 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.
It added that the zookeeper, apparently, feeling comfortable with the animal, left the safety protection gate open and proceeded to feed the animal and he was attacked by the lion and died on the spot.
The management says the action of the zookeeper fell completely out of the standard feeding routine of the park.
Its commiserates with the family of the deceased and assured the public of commitment to highest safety standard and protection of the staff and public.
