A Veterinary Technologist, Olabode Olawuyi at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has been mauled to death by a nine-year-old male lion at the Zoological garden of the university.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon while Olawuyi was feeding the lion in their den.
OAU‘s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, in a statement said Olawuyi, had been in charge of the zoological garden for over a decade.
Olarewaju added that 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.
The incident he said has thrown the management, staff, students, and the entire campus into mourning.
He said on hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, abruptly ended an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.
The university’s spokesman stated that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, was informed, on arrival, by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.
Olarewaju said OAU management had already sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased to commiserate with them.
