Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, has closed its zoological garden in the wake of the unfortunate event that occurred on Monday, in which a nine-year-old lion murdered Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technician.
Following the deadly attack, the institution acted quickly to prioritize safety and launch an investigation into the events that preceded the tragedy.
Punch was informed on Tuesday that Wole Odewumi, the chairman of the OAU branch of the National Association of Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), had verified the closure.
He explained in detail how Olawuyi heroically tried to save a woman that the lion had first set its sights on.
Despite his efforts, the lion attacked Mr. Olawuyi, leading to fatal consequences.
Odewumi said, “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.
“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.
He said, “We held a mourning procession in honour of the deceased this morning, and members of the management addressed us after that sober event.
“All unions on campus joined the procession. The management promised to take necessary action. There will be a committee that his union will also have a representative in, that will work on the issues raised. I have visited the scene. The zoo has been locked up. It is officially locked up.
“The management will not want anybody to go there for now. Some members of the family of the deceased were around, and we handed them over to the management.”
