In a heartbreaking incident, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the tragic death of Babaji Daule, a 35-year-old zoo worker, who lost his life on Saturday in a lion attack at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta. The news was shared by the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, in a statement released on Sunday.
The victim, a dedicated lion handler originally from Bauchi State, reportedly made a fatal mistake by forgetting to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure. While approaching the cage to feed the lion, the animal managed to escape its confinement, leading to a fatal attack. Daule sustained severe injuries to his neck, which tragically claimed his life.
Efforts to save the zoo worker were unsuccessful, as his body was later transported to Ijaye General Hospital mortuary. In the aftermath, security forces had to shoot the lion in an effort to free the handler from its deadly grip.
Further details are expected as investigations into the incident continue.