Mediaage NG News – OSUN, Nigeria
The Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State Abiodun Olanrewaju has revealed that a university lecturer who was attacked and killed by a lion was as a result of the den not properly locked.
It enabled the animal to find its way to attack a female zoo keeper whom the late lecturer was trying to save.
The incident happened while the zookeeper’s female colleague was feeding the nine-year-old lion. Mr Olawuyi stepped into the lion’s den to rescue the woman when he was also attacked.
According to Olanrewaju, other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything to rescue him but he was already severely injured by the lion , which led to his death.
The late Olabode Olawuyi, who was in charge of the school’s zoo died on Monday and has been described as a brave man for his efforts to rescue the female zookeeper.
The female zookeeper is in the hospital, but it is unclear how bad her injuries are.
“The incident is heartbreaking for all the staff and students of the university,” a visibly emotional Olanrewaju said.
The university has now sealed off the zoological garden.
Mr Olabode was a veterinary technologist and had been in charge of the zoological garden for over a decade. He was also the keeper of the nine-year-old lion.
Following the incident the lion was shot dead.
Mr Olanrewaju said that Mr Olawuyi’s family has not yet set a date for his burial.