The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community experienced a tragic event on Monday as a lion in the school’s zoo killed Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist who had been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade.
According to Abiodun Olarewaju, the school’s spokesman, the incident occurred in the afternoon when Olawuyi was feeding the nine-year-old male lion and its mates in their den.
Despite the efforts of other staff members present at the scene to rescue him, the lion inflicted severe injuries that proved fatal.
Upon receiving the sad news, the university’s management, led by Vice-Chancellor Adebayo Bamire, immediately halted an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.
The Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, informed the Vice-Chancellor that all attempts at first aid and medical intervention were unsuccessful.
In response to the tragedy, the aggressive lion responsible for the attack was euthanized.
Olawuyi, who had been caring for the lions since their birth on campus about nine years ago, tragically fell victim to the male lion.
The university’s management extended condolences to the family of the deceased, with a delegation sent to the widow and children, urging them to find solace in God during this difficult time.
Vice-Chancellor Bamire has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident, seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic event at the OAU zoo.