A staff member of the Zoological Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, has been attacked and killed by a lion he was feeding.
According Vanguard, the incident, which occurred on Monday, has sent shockwaves through the university community, leaving colleagues and friends in mourning.
Olawuyi, a seasoned veterinary technologist within the zoological department, had been entrusted with the care of the university’s wildlife, including the nine-year-old lion involved in the fatal encounter. As part of his routine duties, Olawuyi was feeding the lion when the unimaginable happened – he was attacked by the very animal he had nurtured and tended to for years.
Despite efforts by fellow staff members to rescue Olawuyi from the clutches of the lion, their attempts were tragically unsuccessful. The severity of the injuries sustained during the attack led to Olawuyi’s untimely death.
Confirming the incident, Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of OAU, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Olawuyi and the shocking nature of the event.
According to Olarewaju, the news of his death prompted an immediate response from the university’s management, with Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, leading an on-the-spot assessment upon hearing the distressing news.
In a statement issued by the university, it was revealed that the aggressive lion responsible for the attack had been euthanized to prevent any further harm. The decision to euthanize the animal, while difficult, was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of both staff and students within the university premises.
OAU’s management has also launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bamire ordered a thorough examination of both the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy, with the aim of preventing such incidents from occurring in the future.
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