The police command in Ogun State has said a male lion killed its handler at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Zoological garden in Abeokuta.

The state police spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, noted that the incident occurred at about 7:40p.m on Saturday.

Ms Odutola stated that the incident was reported at the Area Command Metro by the Chief Security Officer of OOPL.

According to the police spokesperson, the CSO informed that 35-year-old Babaji Daule from Bauchi State, who is a trained handler of a male lion at the zoological garden in OOPL, tragically lost his life in the incident.

She said, “It was discovered that the lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade of the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal. This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death.’’

Ms Odutola added that the victim’s body was removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, Abeokuta.

She noted that the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.

(NAN)