A tragic incident occurred at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where a lion fatally mauled its handler, Babaji Daule, early on Saturday.
Daule, 35, from Bauchi State, was a trained lion handler at the zoo. According to police spokesman Omolola Odutola, the attack was reported by the Chief Security Officer of the Presidential Library to the Area Commander Metro. The incident took place around 7:40 a.m. on September 28, 2024.
Investigations revealed that Daule had negligently failed to secure the locks and barricades of the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal. This lapse allowed the lion to escape and attack Daule, inflicting fatal injuries to his neck.
The victim’s body was later removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital. In response to the attack, the lion was shot and killed to release its grip on the handler.
