The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community was plunged into mourning following the tragic death of Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, who was mauled by a lion at the school’s zoo on Monday.
According to Abiodun Olarewaju, the university’s spokesman, Olawuyi, who had been caring for the zoo’s animals for over a decade, was attacked while feeding the nine-year-old male lion and its companions.
The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities, Olarewaju said.
Vice-Chancellor Adebayo Simeon Bamire immediately halted a meeting to assess the situation, but the university’s medical team confirmed that medical efforts to save Olawuyi’s life were unsuccessful.
Mr Olawuyi has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about nine years ago but, tragically, the male lion killed the man.
The aggressive lion was euthanized following the incident.
The university management has extended condolences to Olawuyi’s family and initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
