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Tag: lion

  • BREAKING: Lion kills zoo keeper at Obasanjo presidential library 

    BREAKING: Lion kills zoo keeper at Obasanjo presidential library 

    A lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, has killed its handler identified as Babaji Daule. 

    The library is one of the legacies of global statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a one-time Nigerian Head of State and twice elected President.

    The Nation learnt the victim’s body has been removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital. 

    A statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, on Sunday, September 29 explained that 35-year-old Duale was said to have been careless by not securing the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before feeding the lion.

    The wild animal was said to have escaped and attacked the victim on the neck which resulted to death.

    The statement reads: “A deadly incident involving a wild animal attack has been reported by the Area Commander metro. On September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 hrs the Chief Security Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library informed the divisional police officer that a 35-year-old man named Babaji Daule from Bauchi State, who is a trained handler of a male lion at the Zoological Garden in OOPL Abeokuta, tragically lost his life.

    “It was discovered that the lion handler carelessly neglected to secure the locks and barricade the of lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal. This negligence allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in fatal injuries to the handler’s neck and eventual death

    “The victim’s body was removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.”

    Recall in February, a veterinary technologist working at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)’s Zoo, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Olabode Olawuyi, was also killed by a lion, which was later shot dead

  • Death in lion’s den

    Death in lion’s den

    • Time for OAU to rejig its security measures at the zoo.

    It can be described as a tragedy of error, even though there are conflicting accounts of what happened. According to one version, a door carelessly left unlocked at the lions’ enclosure in the zoo resulted in an attack by a lion on two zookeepers at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, and the death of one of them, Olabode Olawuyi.

    One Mrs Ajagbe was reported to have been feeding the lion on February 19 when the mistake occurred. The unlocked door allowed the lion to attack the woman. Her screams attracted Olawuyi to the scene, and he tried to rescue her. According to an account, “Olawuyi attempted to raise his two hands to scare the animal away when the lion used its claws on his chest and part of his throat, forcing him to fall. He later died as a result of loss of blood from the injuries he sustained. But the woman, Mrs Ajagbe, managed to escape and called for help.” 

    The university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, in a statement, presented a different version. He said Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, “who had been in charge of the zoological garden for over a decade,” was attacked by a nine-year-old male lion “when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological Garden of the university.” The lion has been put down. 

    Members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) held a “solidarity walk” on the campus to “honour” Olawuyi, who was a member of the group, “and to correct the impression put out by the management of the institution” that he was killed while he was feeding the animal. The association’s chairman, Matthew Oluwaniyi, described him as “a hero,” adding, “he died while trying to rescue the person who was initially attacked by the lion. He gave his life to rescue his subordinate whom he was supervising.”

     It is reassuring that the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, ordered “a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.” Also, the National Association of Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Parks (NAZAP), which described Olawuyi as a committed member of the association, dispatched investigators to get to the bottom of the incident.

    The different versions of what happened accommodate the attribution of the incident to human error. The animal could not have attacked anyone if it did not get a chance to do so because a door was carelessly left unlocked. It can be said that an absence of alertness on the part of the zookeepers led to the tragedy.

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     This sad incident calls for a review of zoo security at the university to ensure security for the animals from people and security for people from animals. The institution must make every effort towards ensuring that its zoo is a secure and safe environment for both animals and people, including zookeepers and visitors. Such a review should include rethinking the zoo’s enclosures, retraining the zookeepers to prevent the danger of complacency, and paying greater attention to proper feeding and care of the animals in the zoo. 

    In a tribute to Olawuyi, who was said to be in his fifties, the university’s students’ union leader, Abbas Akinremi, described him as a “good and humble man, who attended to us nicely whenever we went to the zoo.”  He was reported to be in charge of wildlife care and health, and also provided research assistance.

    His death in such horrific circumstances, while on duty, places a heavy burden on the university to substantially compensate his wife and two children for their loss. This should be done with a sense of seriousness, and without delay.  

  • VC orders probe as Lion kills zoo keeper in Osun

    VC orders probe as Lion kills zoo keeper in Osun

    There was pandemonium in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State yesterday after a lion killed a staffer of the institution in-charge of the zoological garden.

    The zoo keeper,  Veterinary Technologist named Olabode Olawuyi, was killed by a nine-year-old lion while he was feeding animals at the garden, a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abiodun Olarewaju, said in a statement.

    According to him: “Mr Olawuyi, who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade, was attacked this afternoon, (Monday), 19th February, 2024 by a lion when he was feeding them in their den at the garden of the university.

    “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.”

    He said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, conducted an on-the-spot assessment and he 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.

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    “Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive Lion has been euthanized. 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 who had been feeding them.

    “The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

    “Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”

  • UPDATED: OAU VC orders probe as lion kills zoo keeper

    UPDATED: OAU VC orders probe as lion kills zoo keeper

    There was pandemonium in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State on Monday after a lion killed a staff of the institution who was in charge of the zoological garden.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Simeon Bamire, ordered for full investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olarewaju, explained the zoo keeper, a Veterinary Technologist, identified as Olabode Olawuyi was killed by a nine-year-old lion while feeding animals in the garden.

    According to him: “Mr Olawuyi who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade was attacked this afternoon, Monday, 19th February 2024 by a lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological garden of the University.

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    “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.”

    He disclosed that the VC conducted an on-the-spot assessment and was informed 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.

    “Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanized. 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 who had been feeding them.

    “The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.”

  • Oba Elegushi gets lion sculpture

    Oba Elegushi gets lion sculpture

    About two years after Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla 111 of Ikate Kingdom, Lekki, Lagos, commissioned an artist to produce the sculpture of a lion for his palace, the magnificent sculptural piece has been delivered.

    The 14-ft long, 8.5-ft high, and 4-ft broad and weighing 300kg lion sculpture that encapsulates history, culture, royalty and splendor of the kingdom, was sculpted by artist, Dotun Popoola. The piece was formally presented to Oba Saheed Elegushi last week.

    While receiving the art piece, Oba Saheed Elegushi, 47, said: “I commissioned Dotun to produce a sculptural piece of a lion and you brought a monumental sculpture of a lion with history. I am optimistic that this timeless masterpiece will not only bring fortune to Dotun but will also carry him to heights unforeseen. While recognising his international acclaim and extraordinary contribution to the world of art, I extend to him the well-deserved royal blessings and good wishes bestowed upon him by my ancestors.”

    The monarch announced that the sculpture would be transformed into a luxury coffee table book, which would reflect the analysis of forms and content in the sculpture and also give a creative visual insight into history of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom.

    He added that the book would be placed in palaces and luxury places in parts of the world.

    Beyond the splendor of the piece, the artist said while creating the work, which took him more than two years to finish, he drew inspiration from environmental/ sustainable art as it was made with scrap metals, mild steel, aluminum, bronze, automobile parts, and auto-based pigment. “Some of the materials used to complete the process were repurposed; selected from yellow parts of the scrap yard, bring out the yellow hue seen in the work. Some of the metal pieces were concealed with golden yellow to give it a natural feel of a lion. Hence, the sculpture epitomises scrap with a luxury and this is the impression that I’m creating in the minds of the people about my work. The piece was finished with anti-rust, coats and garnished with Ultraviolet (UV) protection. These precautions were taken because I am aware that the area is a proximity to the sea and we have acid rain and salt water. So, the work is preserved against the vagaries of the climate associated with the ecosystems to avoid yearly maintenance and it can remain like that for the next two to three years.” 

    Taking art journalists through the piece, the artist explained: “On the right hand side of the piece is the 21 white cap chiefs and his father while on the left is his sculpted portrait of 100 kg bronze and some of his ancestors hidden inside the lion. We also have sculpted image of Eyo Adimu inside the piece. This needs a closer look to see the Eyo performing for him and appealing to the gods to guide him through his reign.” 

    To Popoola, the work is not only shrouded in history but is also symbolic. In his view, if there’s going to be any ornamentation to the throne of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, it wouldn’t be an insignia of leopard, tiger or cheetah but that of a lion. According to him, “If the strength of the current king is to be historically documented, it must be related to a story of a lion. His fierce and decisive personality and temperament must form nucleus of the story. In African mythology, lion to African thrones symbolises strength, bravery, good communication skills, and willingness to fight in the bigger schemes of things.”

    These symbolisms spurred him into carrying out more research on Ikate history by reading some books. “In the sculptural piece are the stories from the first Kusenla ruled in 1632  to Oba Yekini Elegushi’ who died in 2010  to his son who became the 21st Oba of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom,” he said.

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    Going memory lane, the artist recalled: “It all began when I delivered a sculpture to a client in the presence of 10 friends in August 14 of 2021. Unknown to me, Mr. Aluko had planned a mini-exhibition. During the event, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom arrived, expressing interest in my work. I was astonished by the distinguished guests. The king admired the sculpture I crafted for his friend and commissioned me to craft two larger lions for his palace”

    Upon returning to his studio, the artist delved into sculpting the lions after researching Ikate Kingdom’s history from the compendium the king provided, and interpreted the kingdom’s story through the canvas of a lion. To further ensure historical accuracy, Popoola said he consulted The Evolution of Ikate Kingdom, authored by Prof. Habeeb Sanni, Dr. Bashir Animashaun, and Dr. Olawale Lawal, which establishes the royal lineage dating back to 1632. I deducted from the book that Ikate Kingdom’s strength and courage are symbolised by the lion despite various mythological interpretations and descriptions. The kingdom declares “A ti de ade kinihun” (We have been enthroned with the crown of the lion). And the kingdom has contributed significantly to the vast Lagos’ industrial, social and economic progress. The spate of urbanisation in the Lagos State is reflected in the emergence of several flourishing towns in Ikate Kingdom and the Elegushi lays firm royal and ruling claim to Ikate-Elegushi economic development. I drew from that historic background,” he said.

  • Lion kills owner in Czech Republic

    A 34-year-old man has been killed by his privately owned lion in the Czech Republic, news agency CTK reported on Tuesday.

    The roughly 8-year-old lion and a lioness, who was pregnant and being held in the same cage, were shot by police during the incident in the small eastern village of Zdechov.

    “That was absolutely necessary so that rescue services could get to the man,’’ a police spokeswoman said.

    The Czech Republic has a whole series of so-called “zoo parks’’ or “nature parks,’’ where big cats often live in poor conditions.

    According to the Environment Ministry in Prague, there are 44 lions, 49 pumas, 20 tigers, 15 ocelots and eight leopards being held in these private zoos.

    The lion owner had made headlines last summer when he was walking his lioness on a leash down a forest path.

    Meanwhile, another man on a mountain bike was injured in an incident with the lioness.

    Police classified the event as a traffic accident.

    NAN

  • Police capture lions, tigers, jaguar after escaping from zoo

    The police on Friday caught several large animals, including lions, tigers, a jaguar after they escaped from a zoo in the Eifel mountain range in western Germany on Friday.

    A spokesman for the district of Bitburg-Pruem, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, said earlier in the day that two lions, two tigers and a jaguar were on the loose.

    He said a bear had been shot.

    The animals escaped from the Eifel Zoo in the municipality of Luenebach. Local residents were advised to stay in their homes and to call the police if they saw the animals.

    A large search operation was carried out, involving the fire services, the police and veterinarians, the spokesman said.

    A recent storm caused damage in some parts of the region, though it was unclear whether the animals escaped because of damage caused by the storm.

    The district administration gave no further details, but said a press conference would be held on Friday afternoon in the city of Bitburg.

    The Eifel Zoo in Luenebach is located in the west of Rhineland-Palatinate, about 50 kilometres north of Trier.

    Large predators are among the main attractions at the zoo, which is home to about 60 different species, including Siberian tigers and African lions, on about 30 hectares of land.

    The zoo was opened in 1972 and is a private family business.(dpa/NAN)

  • Lion escapes from Jos wild life park

    Lion escapes from Jos wild life park

    A lion has escaped from the Jos Wild Life Park on Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    According to Mr. John Doy, the Acting General Manager, Plateau Toursim Corporation, the lion escaped “at about 8:00am while it was being fed.”

    Doy said that the lion, which had been caged since 1972, ” slipped through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding.”

    “The animal is still within the vicinity of the park, but our fear is that the park is not fenced.

    “We are struggling to recapture it, but we want members of the public to be vigilant,” he said.

    The acting general manager said he had already informed all security agencies to come to the park’s assistance.

    Mrs. Naomi Cishak, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), confirmed news of the escape, but said the office had not been officially informed.

    “We have not been officially informed, but we are aware of the incident. That is why we have not deployed our personnel there,” she said.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Plateau Police Command, Mr. Emmanuel Abuh, said, “we are somewhere, cannot talk to anyone.”

     

  • Lion kills tourist guide in Zimbabwe

    Lion kills tourist guide in Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) said a tourist guide was killed on Tuesday by a lion in a pride he was tracking with tourists in Hwange National Park.

    The park is home to the country’s most prized lion Cecil, who was killed in July.

    July killing of Cecil, a 13-year-old, rare black-manned lion by American hunter, Walter Palmer, was met with global outrage and triggered a backlash against Africa’s lucrative hunting industry.

    ZPWMA said that professional guide, Quinn Swales, was on a walking safari with six foreign tourists in Hwange Park on Tuesday when he was attacked by a male lion wearing a GPS collar.

    “He spotted fresh lion spoor and decided to track a pride of lions consisting two females, two curbs and two makes.

    One of the lions known as Nxaha was collared. It is further revealed that Nxaha jumped out at Quinn. All efforts to save Quinn were in vain,” the parks agency said in a statement.

    Police are investigating the case but it was not immediately clear whether Swales was armed. None of the tourists were injured.

    Cases of people killed by wild animals in and around Zimbabwe’s national parks often go unreported. In the past, some lions that have killed humans have been shot.

    ZPWMA spokeswoman, Caroline Washaya-Moyo, said no decision had been made on whether Nxaha should be shot or not.

    Zimbabwe has charged two men in connection with the killing of Cecil, who was fitted with a GPS collar as part of an Oxford University study, and was lured from Hwange and shot by Palmer.

    Zimbabwe wants Palmer, 55, extradited from the U.S. to face trial.

     

  • Of lion, elders etc

    Of lion, elders etc

    Amaechi versus Mbu: As I write this, my hands are shaking. Out of fear. If not for extra courage, I must be peeing in my panties by now. Why? I am afraid ex-Rivers State police chief, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Joseph Mbu, will invite me for a meeting and subsequently order my arrest and the next morning, after staying in mosquitoes-infested cell, will be taken to a Magistrates’ Court and be charged for literary assault on a police officer.

    I hereby plead guilty to the offence of having severally assaulted ‘the best police chief Rivers ever had’ on this space. I confess that on many an occasion, I wrote that ‘the lion’ was law when he was in Rivers. I equally admit that I am guilty of accusing him of reducing Governor Rotimi Amaechi to a second class citizen in his own state.

    And to cap it all, I committed the literary hara-kiri of asking that Mbu be taken to Maiduguri where he would be able to help us get over the Boko Haram menace. I also put it to myself, apologies to my Learned Friends, that I am guilty of saying Mbu was acting a script written from above.

    That is not all. I also confess that I have used this space to write that he was the most controversial police boss Rivers ever had. I contended that Amaechi had worked with at least three police chiefs before him and they never quarreled.

    My sins against this ‘lion’ who tamed the ‘leopard’ are certainly more than those of African Independent Television’s Amaechi Anakwe, who Mbu invited for describing him as ‘controversial’ on a TV programme, ordered his arrest and dragged to a Magistrates’ Court, where he was subsequently freed after prosecution orally withdrew the case on Mbu’s instruction.

    I think the AIT man’s sin may not be unconnected with his name. You may ask: what is in a name? So much. How on earth does he answer the same name as the Rivers governor? Mbu has used every available opportunity, even after leaving Rivers, to show that there can never be a love lost between him and the man who described him as a ‘woman wrapper’. I suggest that Anakwe should drop the Amaechi in his name. I will fund the change of name in this newspaper. That way, the risk of falling prey to the great ‘lion’ Mbu is reduced. He should also avoid the use of the word ‘controversial’ so that he will not have a controversial end.

    As for me, I remain loyal to His Imperial Majesty AIG Joseph Mbu, Southsouth’s most popular boy in the Nigerian Police, a great son of Cross River, a man of monumental achievements who is imbued with the profundity of insights and, above all, the apple of the First Dame’s eyes.  Lastly, please forgive me my sins because I do not know what I was doing. I committed these sins at moments of shingle short.

    Akwa Ibom elders are ‘preposterous and spurious’: In Yoruba land, there is a saying which when translated means: “Elders cannot be in the market and things will not work well.” This makes me ask: What happens when elders decide to fight their son? I leave you to figure that out.

    Elders of Akwa Ibom, led by the owner of the popular Etiebet’s Place, Chief Don Etiebet, are displaying their pugilists’ skills in their fight against Governor Godswill Akpabio. The latest fight is not unconnected to a statement the elders credited to the governor during the state’s 27th anniversary celebration.

    He was quoted as saying: “To the youth, you have a responsibility, the future belongs to you. My challenge to you is not to look at the elders.”

    Etiebet said this amounts to inciting the youths.  “We use this opportunity to call on our youths to know that the future belongs to you but you need the elders for training, advice, direction, blessing and preparation to take over tomorrow.”

    He added: ‘’Just because we, the elders, have counselled him against  arbitrary and non-budgetary spending, should he insult us?”

    Preposterous, spurious and attempts to act out a script by the opposition were Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah’s description of the elders’ claims, adding: “I wonder how a message by the governor admonishing the youth to take their destiny in their hands could be twisted by Etiebet and his co-travellers.”

    We sure will see more of these altercations in the days to come. At the heart of this fight is who flies the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag for the next governorship election. The governor is believed to have made up his mind to install his Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Udom. The elders do not angry with this.

    The governor has refused to comment openly about whether he has given his heart to Udom or not, but he has left no one in doubt that he is in charge.

    Apart from the elders, the situation in Akwa Ibom has seen godsons of Akpabio turning against him. Men with whom he wined and dined cannot even share ordinary water with him anymore. Daily they plot against one another. The other day the governor was angry enough to declare that like the Biblical Absalom, any of his sons who wanted to take power through the backdoor will die. The governor’s supporters insist he was referring to political death. His enemies within say he never used the word ‘political’ when he pronounced death on his estranged sons.

    The season has just begun. Interesting times sure lie ahead. Stay tuned.

    Waiting for Julius Agwu:  October is here. The rush has started. But, where on earth is Julius ‘de genius’ Agwu in the mad rush to 2015? A fortnight ago, he was in Arogbo, an Ijaw community in Ondo State as a guest of the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, for the Arogbo-Ibe Day. He was his jovial self. No one noticed the sartorial elegance of a governor-in-waiting in him. But Agwu says he wants to be governor; or better still, he said he wanted to be governor of Rivers State, which, in the long run, may be a race between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.  Forget that both men will not be candidates, but each of them will want to prove a point.

    The last time Agwu spoke about his ambition was in August. He was everywhere. From the social media to the print media. He granted a number of interviews and tried to disabuse the minds of those who think he was out for another comic relief. He said he was the change Rivers needs.

    Despite his assurances, not many took serious this A-rated comedian. They doubted if he was serious to quit the world of comedy for the world of politics. Now, it is clear he was joking.

    I am pained he has wasted my pieces of advice to him. I had advised him in August thus: “This is my advice to Agwu. First, he needs to rebrand by presenting himself simply as the third force and severing every ethnic tie. He should sell himself as the Rivers candidate. His manifesto should also show the power of comedy in disarming the Federal Government to give the state its dues. Federal roads in the state need attention. Agwu’s manifesto should promise that he has got the skills to get the Presidency to fix these roads and other infrastructure pronto. The manifesto should also show that never again will Rivers be cheated of its rights. In fact, he can promise to get back the oil wells taken from the state through his comic skills.”

    Next time, I will not invest in him again. Chikena!