A lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has killed its handler, Babaji Daule.
Daule, 35, was reported killed at about 7:40 a.m. while approaching the cage to feed the lion on Saturday.
The deceased, who was a trained handler of a male lion at the Zoological Garden in OOPL, was said to have neglected to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure.
Confirming the incident to newsmen on Sunday, police spokesperson Omolola Odutola said the lion attacked the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to his neck, which eventually led to his death.
Odutola stated that the animal was eventually shot to release its grip on the handler.
She said, “On September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 a.m., the Chief Security Officer of the 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 of 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.”
According to her, the corpse has been deposited at the mortuary in Ijaye General Hospital, Abeokuta.
