OAU Zookeeper Was Trying To Rescue Woman From Lion When He Was Killed – NASU Chair Breaks Silence

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The veterinary technologist who was mauled by a lion at the zoological garden of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was attacked while he was attempting to free a woman, who was first attacked by the lion.

The Chairman of the National Association of Non-Academic Staff of Universities, OAU branch, Mr Wole Odewumi, disclosed this Tuesday, Feb. 20.

He added that authorities of OAU have shut down the zoological garden on the institution’s campus following the killing of Mr Olabode Olawuyi by a nine-year-old lion on Monday, Feb. 19.
“I spoke to some of his colleagues, and they told me what happened. The lion attacked a woman first. The woman is also a staff working at the zoo,” Odewumi told Punch.

“The deceased intervened to free the woman from the lion. He must have assumed that the lion would recognise him. His intervention to free the woman must have infuriated the animal. The lion left the woman and attacked him squarely.

“After he was freed from the lion’s grip, they rushed him to the health centre on campus here. He however died before he got there. But the second person that was attacked, a woman, is still on admission receiving treatment presently.”

Odewumi also said a mourning procession was held on the campus on Tuesday in honour of Olawuyi while the management of the university met with his family.