Abeokuta (ChatnewsTV) — A lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has killed its keeper, Mr. Babaji Daule, in a tragic incident. The library, one of the legacies of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served both as a military Head of State and a two-term civilian President, houses a zoological garden where the incident occurred.
According to media reports, the incident took place in the early hours of Sunday and was reported to the authorities at around 7:40 a.m. by the Chief Security Officer of the library.
ChatnewsTV reports that “the tragedy occurred when the trained handler of the male lion carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.”
This lapse in security allowed the lion to escape from its enclosure and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to his neck.
“The victim’s body was later taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital,” the report added. In a bid to rescue the handler, the wild lion was shot to release its grip on him, though the injuries had already proven fatal.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the unfortunate incident. Further investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library remains a prominent cultural and historical center, drawing visitors from across the country, though this incident has cast a somber shadow over its zoological attraction.
By Gabriel Ani
