By Abiola Olawale
There is a state of panic at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, situated in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following the tragic death of a 35-year-old zoo employee, Babaji Daule, who was fatally attacked by a lion on Saturday.
The incident happened at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library owned by the former two-term President of Nigeria as well as a former military Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is a popular tourist destination in Abeokuta, featuring a zoo, museum, resort, and amusement park.
While throwing light on the incident, the Ogun State Police Command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, on Sunday, said Daule, who was from Bauchi State, forgot to secure the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.
This was said to have allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in injuries to his neck and eventual death
The statement reads in part: “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 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.”
