Lion kills 35-year-old zoo keeper in Ogun

A 35-year-old zoo worker at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, has been killed in a lion attack.

Reports indicate that the incident resulted from negligence on the part of the handler, who is originally from Bauchi State.

In a statement confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Command spokesperson Omolola Odutola mentioned that the Chief Security Officer of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library notified the divisional police officer about the situation.

“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 Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta, tragically lost his life,” she said.

“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 the Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.”