Lion Kills Handler At Obasanjo Zoo

A tragic incident occurred at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when a lion fatally attacked its handler, 35-year-old Babaji Daule, from Bauchi State.

Naija News gathered that the incident took place early Saturday morning.

Sources reveal that the lion attacked Daule after he reportedly failed to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before attempting to feed the animal. This lapse allowed the lion to escape and fatally wound the handler, with severe injuries to his neck.

The event, reported by the Chief Security Officer of OOPL at around 7:40 a.m., led to the removal of Daule’s body, which was taken to the State Hospital mortuary in Ijaye, Abeokuta. The lion was shot to free the handler from its grasp.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, stating that negligence in securing the lion’s enclosure resulted in the deadly attack.

The statement by Odutola read, “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 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

“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.”