A zookeeper in south-western Nigeria has been tragically killed after being attacked by a lion, according to local police. The incident occurred at the Presidential Library Wildlife Park, owned by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, in the city of Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The victim, a 35-year-old man named Babaji Daule, reportedly failed to properly secure the enclosure before attempting to feed the lion. Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola stated that the lion inflicted severe and fatal injuries to the man’s neck.
Emergency measures were taken, and the lion was shot to release its hold on the zookeeper, according to police reports.
A statement from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library revealed that the attack took place during an after-hours feeding session, during which the zookeeper had taken guests to observe the lion’s routine. The statement added that the zookeeper, feeling overly confident, left a protective gate open, which allowed the lion to attack him.
The lion was put down immediately by park personnel to prevent further harm or mutilation of the victim’s body.
This incident is particularly concerning as it comes less than a year after another zookeeper was killed by a lion at the Obafemi Awolowo University, also in south-western Nigeria. The tragedy has sparked renewed debates over the safety protocols in Nigeria’s wildlife parks, as well as the need for stricter regulations governing the handling of wild animals.
The late Babaji Daule had been described as a trained and experienced lion handler by local authorities.
