Lion Kills Handler At Obasanjo Library Wildlife Park

On Saturday, a tragic incident unfolded at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State when a lion attacked and killed its handler, Babaji Daule, a 35-year-old native of Bauchi State.

Sources reported that the attack occurred around 7:40 a.m. after Daule, a trained handler, reportedly failed to properly secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure.

He approached the lion’s cage to feed the animal, but due to the handler’s oversight, the lion escaped and attacked him.

The lion inflicted fatal injuries on Daule’s neck, leading to his immediate death.

The park’s security team and local authorities responded swiftly, with the lion being shot to release its grip on Daule.

The Chief Security Officer of the facility reported the incident to the Ogun State police, and the body of the handler was taken to the mortuary at the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta.

The police spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, citing negligence as the cause of the fatal attack.

Odutola stated, “It was discovered that the lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal, which led to this unfortunate incident.”