A zookeeper at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was fatally attacked by a lion while attempting to rescue a woman who had also been attacked by the animal. According to the Chairman of the National Association of Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) at OAU, Mr. Wole Odewumi, the zoo was shut down in response to the incident. The attack occurred on Monday, February 19, and resulted in the death of Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, the veterinary technologist responsible for caring for the animals at the zoological garden.
Odewumi explained that the lion initially attacked a woman, who was also an employee at the zoo, prompting Olawuyi to intervene in an attempt to free her from the animal’s grasp. This ultimately led to the lion turning its aggression towards Olawuyi, leaving the woman and attacking him. Tragically, Olawuyi did not survive the attack, while the woman remains in the hospital receiving treatment.
A mourning procession was held in honor of Olawuyi, and the university’s management met with his family to address the situation. The zoo has been locked up, and the management of OAU has promised to take necessary action. Additionally, the institution confirmed that its staff at the scene of the incident did everything possible to rescue Olawuyi, but were unable to save him from the lion’s attack.
Video footage from the scene shows the moment the lion was killed after attacking Olawuyi. The tragic incident has prompted the university to take action, and measures are being put in place to prevent further similar incidents from occurring.
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