A lion has killed a 35-year-old zoo worker at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The incident happened on Saturday, September 28, 2024, when the Bauchi State-born lion handler identified as Babaji Daule, went to feed the animal.
Reports say the deceased forgot to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the lion.
The lion escaped and attacked the handler, killing him.
Spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday said the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.
“The Area Commander Metro has reported a tragic incident which occurred on the 28th of Sept, 2024 at about 1940hrs, at OOPL zoo that one BABAJI DAULE ‘M’ 35 years a trained handler of a male lion, got killed by the lion.
“It was discovered that the lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade 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.
“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,” she wrote.