- Safiu Kehinde
It was a horrific weekend at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park, Abeokuta after a lion attacked and killed its handler, 35-year-old Babaji Daule.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred at approximately 7:40 am within the Zoological Garden of the OOPL.
Daule, a trained handler from Bauchi State, had reportedly failed to secure the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
This led to the male lion’s escape and fatal assault on Daule, inflicting severe injuries to his neck. To release its grip from Daule’s neck, the lion was shot.
Unfortunately, Daule could not survive as he died due to the injury.
“The victim’s body was retrieved and transported to the Ijaye General Hospital mortuary,” a source confirmed.
Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command spokesperson Omolola Odutla noted that details were still emerging.
“The information available to me at this time is sketchy, but I will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” she said