Lion Kills Zookeeper At Nigerian University
Information reaching Ibom Focus says that Lion Kills Zookeeper At Nigerian University
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has announced the death of a zookeeper in the school by a lion.
According to the school, the zookeeper, identified as Mr Olabode Olawuyi, was killed while feeding lions at the school’s zoological garden on Monday.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the spokesperson for the university, in a statement on Monday, said the veterinary technologist had been “taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about 9 years ago but, tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them”.
He said efforts made by other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident failed even though they did “everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities”.
He noted that the school’s vice chancellor, Prof Adebayo Bamire, quickly ended an ongoing meeting after hearing the tragedy and proceeded to the scene.
He said the lion responsible for Olawuyi death was given a painless death after the incident.
“Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanized,” he said.
“The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life,” he added.
In 1991, one Prophet Daniel Abodurin was killed after going into the lions’ cage at the zoological garden of the University of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He was said to have tried to recreate the biblical story of Daniel, who was thrown into a lions’ den but miraculously survived.
