The Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU), Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed on Monday the killing of a zookeeper in the university by a lion, News About Nigeria reports.
According to Olarewaju, the 9-year-old male lion killed the zookeeper on Monday while he was feeding the wild cats in their den at the Zoological Garden of the University.
He further noted that the deceased, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, was, until his death, a veterinary technologist and had been in charge of the Zoological Garden for over a decade.
The school’s PRO also revealed that the victim started taking care of the lions when they were born on campus about nine years ago.
Olarewaju also stated that some of the deceased’s colleagues who were present when the lion attacked him tried to save him but to no avail.
“Mr. Olawuyi has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about nine years ago, but tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them,” the statement partly reads.
Olarewaju further noted that the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, who attended to the victim when he was rushed to the hospital pronounced him dead after all first aid and medical efforts to save his life proved abortive.
Speaking further, the PRO revealed that the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, upon receiving the information, visited the scene of the incident for proper on-the-spot assessment.
He also revealed that the vice chancellor, who was saddened by the tragic event, ordered that the aggressive lion be put to death.
The varsity spokesman mentioned that the management has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the tragic incident while a delegation has also been sent to the widow and children of the deceased, to encourage them in these hard times.
